Jamsil Indoor Stadium Pool Closes After 40 Years

The Jamsil Indoor Stadium Pool in Seoul is closing in November due to the upcoming redevelopment of the complex after decades of operation. Operating for 40 years as a public sports facility, the Jamsil Sports Complex’s No. 1 swimming pool will halt operations ahead of the complex’s demolition at the end of the year under Seoul’s Jamsil Sports and MICE complex development project.

Members and Staff Reflect on Decades of Memories

Longtime members and staff gathered to share final farewells and commemorate the facility. Kim Hee-jung, an 80-year-old member who swam at the pool for over 40 years, said, This is where I spent my entire youth. Words like “regretful” don’t even begin to describe it. She added that the complex was a place where flowers bloomed in spring, greenery flourished in summer, and yellow leaves turned in autumn, noting that swimming always made her feel refreshed and uplifted. Hong Yoon-sook, 71, who has swum there for 33 years, noted that she started coming in her 30s and is now in her 70s, adding that she will remember the people she saw daily like family.

Staff members also expressed regret over the closure. Woo Chang-mi, a 42-year-old employee of 14 years, stated that she knew which locker keys to hand out just by looking at members’ faces. Instructors including 3-year veteran Cho Hyun-ah and 15-year veteran Yang Seung-min, who watched the 1986 Asian Games at the venue as a student, shared fond memories of the daily classes and community. Cho, 26, mentioned she would miss starting her mornings with the members’ vibrant energy, while Yang, 52, recalled visiting as a child with family and friends and training as a middle school athlete.

Redevelopment Plans and Future Facilities

The 1984-completed Jamsil Sports Complex is being cleared for the city’s MICE project. A newly constructed student gymnasium under the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, located southwest of the main stadium, will feature a 50-meter, 10-lane swimming pool. It is scheduled for completion next February and will open sequentially during the first half of the year.

While some members plan to continue at other facilities, others noted challenges, with 56-year-old member Lee Eun-hee stating, We are planning to meet again at another swimming pool, but it is a pity that the pools available to seniors are limited.. Another member, 53-year-old Roh Yu-yeon who had swum there for 10 years, said, I started by learning ‘sound waves’ here, and now I know how to do everything., adding, It was more fun exercising together than alone, and we also made memories by filming a lot of swimming videos..