Tennis Arena Now K-Pop Haven

Olympic Hall in Seoul, which was built as an arena for tennis matches, was reopened June 22 as a new auditorium dedicated to K-pop concerts.

Having undergone a year of renovation and reconstruction, the hall now boasts an improved sound system as well as a special exhibition space outlining the history of Korean pop starting in the 1920s.

The main venue seats 2,452 (expandable to 3,000) with a smaller 240-seat hall for more intimate performances of indie bands and “rising artists.”

The project was spearheaded by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism with the aim of “spreading the Korean Wave even further overseas.”

The opening ceremony was attended by a number of K-pop stars, some of whom also performed, and several hundred K-pop fans.