Approval of Light Rail Construction Plans for Mokdong Line (Sinwol~Dangsan) and Gangbuk Transversal Line (Mokdong~Cheongnyangni)

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Finalizes and Announces Approval of the '2nd Seoul Metropolitan Subway Network Plan' on the 17th

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) announced on the 17th that with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's approval and announcement of the '2nd Seoul Urban Railway Network Construction Plan,' the conditions for promoting the Mokdong Line (Sinwol to Dangsan) for balanced development between eastern and western Seoul and the new Gangbuk Transversal Line (Mokdong to Cheongnyangni) light rail project passing through Deungchon-ro (Mok 3,4-dong) have been established.

In particular, the Mokdong Line light rail project was proposed by Yangcheon-gu to Seoul City in 2005 and was reflected twice in the 'Seoul 10-Year Urban Railway Basic Plan' in 2008 and 2015, confirmed and announced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. However, since it was carried out as a private investment project, there were no proposals from private investors due to the construction recession, making it difficult to proceed.

Accordingly, during the 6th local government term, the district established a concrete plan to promote the urban railway project and continuously requested the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the competent authority, to convert the Mokdong Line into a public-funded project, fully underground it, and start construction early.

As a result, Seoul City announced in February last year the '2nd Seoul Urban Railway Network Construction Plan (draft),' confirming the full undergrounding and public funding of the Mokdong Line.

Moreover, this plan includes not only the Mokdong Line but also the Gangbuk Transversal Line light rail project (Mokdong to Cheongnyangni) passing through Deungchon-ro from Mokdong Station to Cheongnyangni, which is expected to greatly help increase railway transportation services in the Mok 3 and 4-dong areas (Deungchon-ro) and eliminate public transportation blind spots.

This plan is stipulated under Article 5 of the Urban Railway Act, requiring city and provincial governors to establish a 10-year urban railway network construction plan. Accordingly, Seoul City established the plan, and the approved lines include six public-funded lines: Gangbuk Transversal Line, Mokdong Line, Ui-Sinseol Extension Line, Myeonmok Line, Nangok Line, Line 4 Express, and Line 5 Direct Connection; three private investment lines: Western Line, Southern Extension of Western Line, and Northern Extension of Sillim Line; totaling 10 lines, plus one conditional line: the 4th phase additional extension of Line 9, totaling 11 lines.

Yangcheon-gu plans to actively strive for the prompt and smooth promotion of the light rail projects such as the Mokdong Line, as procedures like the preliminary feasibility study by the Ministry of Strategy and Finance remain even after the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's plan approval.

Development plans for surrounding areas such as the Western Truck Terminal and the upcoming Mokdong Apartment reconstruction project will be reflected in the preliminary feasibility study to maximize project feasibility and demand increase. The district will continuously request and consult with Seoul City and related agencies.

Kim Soo-young, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, stated, “With the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's plan approval, conditions for promoting the Mokdong Line and Gangbuk Transversal Line light rail projects have been established. We will closely cooperate with Seoul City and related agencies during the Ministry of Strategy and Finance's preliminary feasibility study to improve transportation conditions in public transit vulnerable areas such as Sinwol-dong and promote balanced regional development.”

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