Woo Hyeong-chan "Concerns Over Massive Toll Hike on Private Roads in Seoul"

Woo Hyeong-chan, Vice Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, is pointing at the underground road construction site in Sinwol-yeoui.

Seoul City to Push Toll Increase for Four Private Roads Including Sinwol-Yeoui Underground Road

Relatively Expensive Sinwol-Yeoui Underground Road Should See a Toll Reduction, Not an Increase!

Toll Increases Pushed Without Road Choice Must Be Immediately Halted!

Woo Hyung-chan, Vice Chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, argued on the 7th that Seoul City’s proposal to raise tolls on four private roads within Seoul starting this April, submitted to the Seoul Metropolitan Council for public consultation, is causing yet another blow to citizens already suffering economically from the recession, rising inflation, loan interest hikes, and increases in public utility fees.

The private roads in Seoul targeted for toll increases are Yongma Tunnel, Gangnam Circular Road, Western Arterial Underground Road, and Sinwol-Yeoui Underground Road, with a combined daily vehicle usage reaching approximately 268,000 vehicles.

In particular, the Sinwol-Yeoui Underground Road, opened in April 2021, was completed to alleviate chronic congestion on National Assembly-daero and Sinwol IC, which sees up to 190,000 vehicles daily. However, due to the Jemulpo-gil Upper Park Project ongoing until the end of 2025, severe traffic congestion has occurred, forcing citizens to use the toll road unwillingly.

According to a Seoul City survey, the average weekday traffic volume on the Sinwol-Yeoui Underground Road increased by 9.2% (4,642 vehicles), from 50,267 vehicles during October 3?14 last year before the closure of the Hwagok Underpass, to 54,909 vehicles during October 17?28 after the closure, indicating that citizens have been using the Sinwol-Yeoui Underground Road as a detour for National Assembly-daero.

While toll roads should fundamentally have alternative routes available, the severe traffic congestion caused by construction has forced drivers to rely on the Sinwol-Yeoui Underground Road, the vice chairman pointed out.

Woo Hyung-chan, who has long advocated for reducing the relatively expensive tolls on the Sinwol-Yeoui Underground Road, emphasized, “Mayor Oh Se-hoon must immediately withdraw any attempts to raise tolls on private roads, including the Sinwol-Yeoui Underground Road, as further public utility fee hikes and anticipated public transportation fare increases will only increase the burden on citizens.”

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