Sillim Line Light Rail Opens... Seoul National University to Yeouido in 16 Minutes

[Seoul District News] Gwanaksan (Seoul National University) Station to Saetgang Station: Total 11 Stops · Transfers Available on Subway Lines 1, 2, 7, and 9 · Gwanak-gu Transportation Environment Improvement Expected to Boost Station Area Development, New Population Influx, and Venture Company Settlement... ‘Seongdong-type Smart Shelter’ Digital Signage Displays Missing Child Information... Yangcheon-gu Launches Sustainable Development Initiatives

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The Sinlim Line light rail opened on the 28th and began operating smoothly.

The 'Sinlim Line' is a light rail connecting a total length of 7.8 km with 11 stations from Gwanaksan (Seoul National University) Station to Yeouido Saetgang Station. It allows transfers to Subway Line 9 (Saetgang Station), Line 1 (Daebang Station), Line 7 (Boramae Station), and Line 2 (Sinlim Station), and is expected to eliminate blind spots in public transportation in the southwestern area.

In particular, for the Sinlim area, which has poor transportation conditions, it will be possible to travel from Sinlim Station to Yeouido Saetgang Station with 7 stations, and since transfers are possible at 4 locations within the operating section, accessibility to the entire Seoul area is expected to improve significantly.

The operating hours are from 5:30 AM to midnight, with intervals of about 3.5 minutes during rush hours and 4 to 10 minutes during normal times. The travel time between Yeouido and Seoul National University has been reduced to 16 minutes, half of the previous time.

The trains consist of 3 cars per set, with 12 sets (36 cars) operating daily. Based on a congestion rate of 150%, up to 238 passengers can be transported at once, with a maximum daily capacity of 130,000 passengers.

The fare is based on the Seoul subway fare system. When using a transportation card, the basic fare is 1,250 KRW for distances within 10 km, with additional charges depending on distance, and the metropolitan area integrated transfer discount system is applied.

Until now, Gwanak-gu had only one subway line, Line 2, running east-west, causing significant inconvenience in public transportation use. However, with the opening of the Sinlim Line, the transportation environment is expected to improve.

Moreover, not only residents but also visitors to Gwanak-gu attractions such as Gwanaksan Mountain, Byeolbitnaerimcheon Stream, and Sinlim Station Sundae Town, as well as companies located in Gwanak S Valley, will be able to access Gwanak-gu more conveniently.

A district official said, “The opening of the Sinlim Line light rail will greatly improve residents' transportation convenience,” adding, “Based on the improved transportation environment, we will strive harder for regional development, including station area development, new population inflow, and improved conditions for venture companies.”

Digital Signage Inside Smart Shelter

Seongdong-gu has finally selected a total of 17 resident ideas through the '4th Seongdong-gu Life-Closely-Related Policy Idea Contest.'

In February, the district held a contest under the theme 'Smart and Life-Closely-Related Policy Ideas for Smart Inclusive City Seongdong,' collecting various opinions over two months. After several reviews of policy feasibility and deliberations, 17 ideas were finally adopted.

The highest-rated idea in this contest was titled 'Promotion of Missing Children Information Linked to Smart Shelters.' It is a resident idea to display missing children information on the internal screens of the 'Seongdong-type Smart Shelter' to encourage more people to take interest and participate in finding missing children.

The 'Seongdong-type Smart Shelter,' introduced for the first time nationwide, broadcasts photos and personal information of missing children at regular intervals on digital signage inside the shelter, aiming to become a bridge to reunite missing children with their families.

Users of the smart shelter can naturally view related information along with bus arrival times and important district announcements through the screen. The information is provided and regularly updated by the Missing Children Specialized Center of the Child Rights Protection Agency.

Other adopted ideas include 'Introduction of Automatic Sterilization and Cleaning Machines for Tumblers in Public Institutions' related to disposable product usage regulations, 'Seongdong-gu River Plogging Project' to expand plogging participation, and 'Tutoring Service' for the increasing number of single-person households, totaling 17 ideas that will be steadily implemented for residents.

Now in its fourth year, the 'Seongdong-gu Life-Closely-Related Policy Idea Contest' serves as a practical communication channel reflecting residents' voices into district policies. Last year, three ideas, including the 'It's Okay to Be Slow Zone' to bridge the digital divide, were realized.

A Seongdong-gu official said, “We continuously collect resident proposals through various channels such as 'Seongdong Residents' Hall' and 'Sangsang House,' online platforms for resident participation and policy communication based on the Living Lab method,” adding, “Since the missing children search service was implemented within just two months from the contest period to evaluation and execution, we will actively reflect resident ideas to ensure life-closely-related administration.”

Yangcheon-gu held a kickoff meeting for the project to establish a basic plan for sustainable development, officially promoting its leap toward a sustainable city.

'Sustainable development' refers to development that balances and harmonizes economic growth, social stability and integration, and environmental conservation without wasting resources for future generations while meeting the needs of the present generation.

Starting with the establishment of the UN Sustainable Development Commission at the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development, the Sustainable Development Goals (17 areas) were adopted at the 70th UN General Assembly in 2015. South Korea also established the 4th Basic Plan for Sustainable Development (2021?2040) in December 2020, promoting it as a core national value.

Accordingly, Yangcheon-gu has secured momentum by enacting the Sustainable Development Ordinance in 2020 and establishing the Yangcheon-gu Sustainable Development Committee in 2021.

Through this project, the district plans to integrate and promote sustainable development efforts across various fields such as environment, economy, society, and welfare.

The project for establishing the Yangcheon-gu Basic Plan for Sustainable Development will undertake tasks including ▲analysis of the current status, changing conditions, and prospects of sustainable development in Yangcheon-gu ▲operation of deliberative forums through resident surveys and MGOS workshops ▲development of evaluation indicators to ensure the effectiveness of the basic plan ▲and establishment of a 5-year (2023?2027) sustainable development plan for Yangcheon-gu.

The kickoff meeting for the project, held on the 25th, was attended by about 30 people including Acting Mayor Kim Jeong-ho, district executives, sustainable development experts, and the project team. The meeting featured passionate discussions and expert advice to establish a distinctive and feasible basic plan tailored to Yangcheon-gu.

An official from the Planning and Budget Division said, “Yangcheon-gu has been leading sustainable development through various projects in environment, economy, society, and welfare,” adding, “Now is the time for integrated and mid-to-long-term management encompassing all fields. Based on this project, we will establish a plan suited to the district’s conditions and characteristics to become a city with a more promising future.”

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