Seoul standardizes subway ventilation shafts at 1.5 meters or higher

Published Oct 5, 2026

Seoul is standardizing urban-rail ventilation shafts at a minimum height of 1.5 meters. Flood-prone locations will require two meters or additional flood-protection measures, starting with new rail projects.

One standard will replace line-by-line differences

Height rules have varied by district, line and engineering discipline, sometimes producing inconsistent designs even within the same project. Seoul plans to use a 1.5-meter minimum to improve pedestrian safety and design consistency.

New lines will be the first to adopt the rule

The standard is set to be applied first to projects including the Songpa–Hanam, Myeonmok and Wirye–Sinsa lines. Higher or protected structures will be required where flooding is a concern, while the city also aims to reduce sidewalk obstruction.

Sources & context

2026-10-05T09:08:00+09:00

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