Creation of a Park on the Gyeongui Line Railway Site in Mapo-gu

Mapo-gu and Korea Rail Network Authority Sign Business Agreement, First Fruit in 7 Years for Railway Site Park Development... Joint Efforts to Create Gyeongui Line Railway Site Park and Improve Surrounding Environment

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Mapo-gu (Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun) is promoting a park development project to create a representative cultural space in the northwestern area of Seoul by utilizing the Gyeongui Line railway land (former Seongsan Driving School site) between Gajwa Station and Digital Media City Station, managed by the Korea Rail Network Authority.

To this end, on the 18th, the district office signed a business agreement with the Korea Rail Network Authority at Mapo-gu Office for the “Creation of the Gyeongui Line Linear Forest (Phase 3).”

The signing ceremony was attended by Yoo Dong-gyun, Mayor of Mapo-gu, Kim Yong-du, Head of the Metropolitan Headquarters of the Korea Rail Network Authority, Jeong Cheong-rae, a National Assembly member who actively supports the park project, Jo Young-deok, Chairperson of the Mapo District Council, city and district council members, related organizations, and representatives of nearby residents.

Following the agreement, a performance was held where moss (Scandia moss), symbolizing healing and used as an indicator species for environmental pollution, was planted on sculptures at the project site, emphasizing the connection of people, nature, and time by linking the previously disconnected forest paths.

The main contents of this agreement include ▲ execution and maintenance of the “Gyeongui Line Linear Forest Creation Project” ▲ mutual cooperation in establishing and promoting development plans for railway land within the region ▲ joint cooperation to facilitate railway land utilization projects, railway construction projects, and management.

The district office will present the basic direction for utilizing the railway land, take charge of executing and maintaining the park project, and support administrative tasks such as permits and approvals related to railway land development. The Korea Rail Network Authority will provide the necessary railway land for park creation and actively strive to make this a model case of win-win cooperation through the successful promotion of the park project.

The “Gyeongui Line Linear Forest (Phase 3) Creation Project” covers an area of 24,860㎡ around 27-51 Jung-dong, Mapo-gu, with a total project cost of 6.5 billion KRW. It aims to transform the previously disconnected railway land into a park and is scheduled for completion in 2022.

The district plans to specialize the space by section and introduce facilities shaped like railway tracks, creating a landscape that evokes memories and nostalgia of the Gyeongui Line, turning it into a park that tells the story of railway culture.

As part of the 5 million tree planting project, this initiative was finally selected in March after the Korea Rail Network Authority reviewed the district’s proposal for utilizing idle railway land submitted in October last year.

In February 2014, the district and the Korea Rail Network Authority signed a business agreement to create a park on the surface land between Gajwa Station and Susaek Vehicle Depot on the Gyeongui and Airport Lines, with plans to complete the park by 2018. However, the project was halted in some sections due to occupied facilities.

Through continuous communication and consultation with local National Assembly members, city and district council members, residents, and civic groups, the district built consensus on park creation, resulting in the final selection of the utilization project this March, marking the fruition of the park project after a 7-year hiatus since the 2014 agreement.

Following this agreement, the district plans to collect opinions from experts and local residents in the second half of this year, revise and finalize the design reflecting the latest trends, and complete the project next year. The railway land area will be developed into a representative cultural space in northwestern Seoul in connection with surrounding development projects.

Yoo Dong-gyun, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, “Through this business agreement, the previously disconnected Gyeongui Line railway area will be connected as a forest, improving the quality of life for local residents. We will continue to strive to establish this as a representative cultural space in northwestern Seoul in connection with the development of Lotte Mall and the DMC complex station.”

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