Gangnam-gu: "Suspended Samseong-dong Urban Airport Terminal Must Resume Operations"

Gangnam District Mayor Joseongmyeong Declares "Will Actively Cooperate with Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Related Agencies for Normal Operation of Samseong-dong Urban Airport Terminal"

Joseongmyeong, Mayor of Gangnam District

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Gangnam-gu (District Mayor Seongmyeong Jo) plans to actively cooperate with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Korea Urban Airport to prepare support measures to ensure the normal operation of the Samseong-dong Urban Airport Terminal, a core infrastructure facility in downtown Gangnam.

The Samseong-dong Urban Airport Terminal has been suspended for over two years since April 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19. The suspension period is until the end of September this year, but according to media reports on July 31, the resumption of operations is uncertain due to accumulated deficits and financial burdens.

Opened in 1990, the Samseong-dong Urban Airport Terminal is a facility where passengers can complete boarding procedures, baggage handling, and immigration inspections in downtown Seoul before heading to Incheon Airport. It also offers direct airport limousine services, resulting in high user satisfaction. In 2019, just before the outbreak of COVID-19, the terminal had approximately 350,000 annual users, averaging 800 to 1,000 passengers daily.

Gangnam-gu hopes for the resumption of the terminal’s operation, concerned about the impact on the local economy and the inconvenience to citizens visiting the airport if the Samseong-dong Urban Airport Terminal, which has provided convenience to local residents, tourists, and numerous businesspeople traveling overseas for over 30 years, is closed.

To alleviate the financial burden, the district waived the traffic inducement charges for the Urban Airport Terminal in 2020 and 2021, and plans to exempt these charges starting this year.

Seongmyeong Jo, Mayor of Gangnam-gu, stated, “The Samseong-dong area is undergoing projects such as the Yeongdong-daero complex development and the creation of an international exchange complex district, making it a place destined to become a world-renowned attraction.” He added, “The role and locational competitiveness of the Urban Airport Terminal will grow beyond imagination.” He also said, “We will actively consult with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Urban Airport Terminal to provide unwavering support for the resumption of operations of the Urban Airport Terminal, which is responsible for airport transportation in downtown Gangnam and the southeastern region of Seoul.”

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