Seoul City Introduces New Transportation for Citizens Living in Hilly Areas like Bukahyeon-dong

[Asia Economy Reporter Onyu Lim] An inclined elevator will be installed in the Bukahyeon-dong area of Seodaemun-gu, where people had to climb a steep slope for about 10 minutes to get to the subway station. Near Baeji Park on Daehyeonsan Mountain in Jung-gu, where it took up to 15 minutes to climb steep stairs to access the park, an inclined monorail will be installed.

On the 22nd, Seoul City announced the selection of eight sites and transportation means for the "Hill Area Mobility Improvement Project," which introduces new transportation for citizens living in hilly areas with steep slopes that make pedestrian and vehicle access difficult.

The eight sites are ▲the retaining wall next to Dongho Tunnel in Jung-gu ▲the walkway in front of Oksu Church in Seongdong-gu ▲251-99 Bukahyeon-dong, Seodaemun-gu ▲Daehyeonsan Park in Haengdong 2-dong, Seongdong-gu ▲30 Geumha-ro, Geumcheon-gu ▲33-51 Seogye-dong in the Seoul Station Urban Regeneration Area, Yongsan-gu ▲Daehyeonsan Baeji Park in Jung-gu ▲and Jangmi Park in Geumcheon-gu. The city selected the sites through a "resident proposal method," where residents suggest the locations and transportation means they want.

The city plans to establish basic plans for the eight project sites by June, reflecting the residents' proposals. Each local district will proceed with basic and detailed designs from July, with construction orders and groundbreaking scheduled for October, aiming to complete the projects by the end of 2021.

Meanwhile, the pilot projects underway in two low-rise residential areas with many hills?Samyang-dong and Mia-dong in Gangbuk-gu?will be carried out with some plan modifications. Considering the proximity to schools in both areas, various directions and alternatives were discussed, gathering opinions from schools, parents, residents, and other stakeholders. The Mia-dong project will proceed with a supplemented basic plan, while the Samyang-dong project will be reconsidered during the planned school reconstruction in 2024, taking into account the safety of aging school facilities.

Kang Maeng-hoon, Director of Urban Regeneration at Seoul City, said, "Since this project aims to improve mobility for citizens living in steep hilly areas, it is appropriate for residents to directly decide the project sites and transportation means, which is why we selected the sites through resident proposals." He added, "We will actively promote the hill area mobility improvement project by reflecting the issues raised during the Mia-dong and Samyang-dong pilot projects." He continued, "We will do our best to successfully carry out the project and expand mobility facilities throughout Seoul's hilly areas in the future to enhance citizens' quality of life."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.