LG Uplus is going to introduce 'U+5G Gallery' that combines 5G and cultural art for the first time in the world.
LG Uplus and the Seoul Metropolitan Transportation Corp. (Seoul Metro) announced on July 7 that they signed an agreement on the construction of a cultural and artistic railway at Gongdeok Station on the subway line No. 6 at the corporation's conference room in Seongdong-gu, Seoul.
The signing ceremony was attended by major officials from the two sides, including Ha Hyun-hoe, vice chairman of LG Uplus, and Kim Tae-ho, president of Seoul Metro.
Under the agreement, the two companies plan to transform the historical space of Gongdeok Station, which is used by 13 million people a year, into a "cultural and artistic railway" where citizens can enjoy colorful cultural and artistic works while traveling on the subway.
LG Uplus is planning to unveil its "U+5G Gallery" in August to citizens, which utilizes 5G technology to view the works as augmented reality (AR).
If a customer waiting for the subway sees an art piece installed on a screen door as a 5G augmented reality service app called "U+AR," it will be transformed from a stationary painting into another piece of art with the movement of objects or personalities added. It is also possible to enjoy works that move greatly or freely through U+AR.
The stations of subways in famous cities overseas, including Lisbon, Naples and Stockholm, have been working with artists since the design stage to become a tourist attraction that provides cultural space to citizens.
The U+5G Gallery will solve such practical limitations of not changing the structure of subway station significantly through collaboration between 5G and artwork for the first time in the world, and transform Gongdeok Station into a space that citizens want to visit and experience first.
"I hope it will serve as an opportunity for citizens to pay attention to culture and art in public spaces such as subways, and I hope that 5G technology will make another impression on the gallery," said Vice Chairman Ha, adding, "We will work with the Seoul Metro to create a good case."
"We are trying to transform the subway line No. 6 into an art platform even as we give up billions of won in advertising revenue," said Seoul Metro President Kim.