Oil Tank Culture Park

horangyeee

In the heart of Mapo-gu, near the World Cup Stadium, there is an unusual park known as the Cultural Depot. This place was once an oil reserve base. Oil, an important resource both then and now, prompted the creation of an oil storage facility equipped with five large oil tanks to serve as a buffer in case of a future oil crisis, following the oil supply instability caused by the 1973 oil crisis. Despite the dangerous and crucial nature of oil, this location was a no-go zone for civilians for many years, but it transformed into a cultural space for citizens after the 2002 World Cup. I appreciate such spaces. Although the Cultural Depot serves as a venue for exhibitions, performances, and experiential events, its primary appeal is as a leisurely park, suitable for strolls without any specific purpose. Even on weekends, it is not overly crowded, allowing for a pleasant experience of the seasons. Upon entering the base, you'll find a walking path along the perimeter, and as you follow this path, you can see the oil storage tanks mentioned earlier. These tanks have been preserved almost in their original state, but the interiors have been remodeled into cultural spaces. Browsing through a brochure to find intriguing content and then locating the respective tank is also part of the fun. There are permanent exhibitions and performances that take place at specific times. I accidentally heard about a performance through a public address system while walking around without any plan, highlighting the site's true value as a place where you can unexpectedly encounter a performance or exhibition. The Cultural Depot is significant as a space where citizens can easily access culture and art without feeling distant. Moreover, the transformation from a once prohibited base area to a park open to everyone exemplifies its accessible identity.