SOUTH KOREA: A new public plaza in Seoul is bringing live entertainment into the daily routine of commuters and office workers, with no tickets or venue queues required. Opened on 18 September 2026, Munjeong Fun Station is part of a Seoul Metropolitan Government initiative to transform underused spaces near major subway stations into cultural and leisure destinations. Among its key features is a permanent HK Audio sound system, designed and installed by Korean integrator Sama Sound, that gives the open-air venue the audio capability to host everything from everyday screenings to concert-scale performances.

Located near Munjeong Station in the heart of a business district, the plaza is intended to serve as more than a conventional public gathering space. Alongside cultural events and video screenings, it will operate as a ‘Connected Live’ venue, broadcasting performances from Seoul Arena – the city’s new large-scale concert venue, currently under construction and scheduled for completion in the first half of 2027 – onto a large LED screen. The concept brings the atmosphere of major live events into an accessible public setting, but places equally significant demands on the sound system.

For Sama Sound, the brief involved balancing two distinctly different operating requirements. During concert broadcasts, the system needed sufficient output and coverage to reproduce the energy of a live performance across the plaza. For routine screenings and announcements, however, it had to deliver clear, natural sound at lower levels. The surrounding offices and busy pedestrian routes added another consideration: audio needed to remain focused on the intended listening areas, limiting spill into neighbouring buildings and walkways. As a permanent outdoor installation, every component also had to be suitably protected against the elements.

The main system is built around HK Audio’s SI P10i and SI P10j column arrays, selected for their high output from a compact enclosure and IP66-rated protection against dust and water. Four loudspeaker positions were established around the plaza, each comprising two SI P10i and one SI P10j. The resulting 12-unit SI Series deployment provides the principal coverage, with the column arrays’ directional characteristics helping to keep sound focused across the audience areas.

Low-frequency reinforcement comes from eight HK Audio S210 V subwoofers, with two installed at each of the four positions. Their role is particularly important during concert broadcasts, where the low end contributes much of the physical impact and scale associated with live performance. Together, the SI Series arrays and S210 V subwoofers form a system designed to move between high-energy programme material and more restrained everyday use without compromising clarity.

Coverage beneath the plaza’s canopy required a separate solution, as these areas fell outside the reach of the main arrays. Sama Sound installed four HK Audio VORTIS 2 VR2-11510 loudspeakers to fill the gaps and provide additional coverage. Specified with the optional polyurethane (PU) coating, the VORTIS units also benefit from an added layer of weather protection. The system is powered by Powersoft Quattrocanali amplifiers and controlled by a Q-SYS Core processor, with the audio infrastructure integrated with the plaza’s LED display.

Achieving the intended coverage, however, was not simply a matter of selecting the loudspeakers and determining their positions. The mounting surfaces at the four speaker locations presented a significant installation challenge, with highly irregular walls making standard mounting methods unreliable. Precise positioning was essential: the SI Series’ directivity relies on each array being installed at its planned angle and location, and any deviation could affect the intended coverage.

Sama Sound’s structural design specialist therefore developed custom brackets based on HK Audio’s original mounting hardware, adapting the designs to suit the site conditions. The resulting structures secured the loudspeakers at the required positions and angles while providing the robustness needed for a permanent outdoor installation. It was a site-specific engineering solution that addressed both the physical limitations of the architecture and the acoustic requirements of the system.

The project took shape over several months, with design consultations beginning in early February and the full system completed in October. Responsibility was divided across Sama Sound’s specialist teams: the Sama System Design team handled the overall system design, the Video Project team delivered the video and live broadcast infrastructure, and affiliate company Sama CDS undertook the on-site audio installation.

According to Sama Sound, the completed installation has delivered the combination of output, coverage and flexibility envisaged for the plaza. Concert playback creates a live-event atmosphere across the open space, while everyday screenings remain intelligible at lower volume levels. Careful loudspeaker positioning also helps contain the sound within the intended listening areas. Facility operators have been particularly impressed by the fullness and power achieved from the relatively compact loudspeaker enclosures.

John Ju, Senior Research Engineer of SAMA’s System Design Team, said: “Munjeong Fun Station was a challenging project that required us to deliver the rich, powerful sound expected from a concert venue while maintaining harmony with the surrounding environment. The HK Audio SI Series delivered outstanding output and sound quality that exceeded expectations for its compact design. Its precise directional characteristics also allowed us to effectively meet the project’s demanding requirements. The excellent IP66 dust and water resistance rating was an important factor in selecting the SI Series for this outdoor installation, while its combination with the S210 V subwoofers delivered rich and impressive sound throughout the large open space. Through this install, HK Audio’s technical capabilities and outstanding product quality really shone through – we look forward to actively incorporating these sound solutions into a wide range of future projects.”