Gangbuk-gu Accelerates 'Shin Gangbuk Line Attraction'... Launch Ceremony of Promotion Committee

On the 17th, the Shin Gangbuk Line Promotion Committee Inauguration Ceremony Held... Over 500 Attendees Celebrate Success

Lee Soon-hee, Mayor of Gangbuk-gu: "The Shin Gangbuk Line is the right of citizens in the northeastern area, and Gangbuk-gu will become the hub of all directions"

Gangbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Soon-hee) is accelerating efforts to attract the new urban railway, the Shin Gangbuk Line.

The district formed the 'Shin Gangbuk Line Promotion Committee,' composed of civilian representatives, and held its inauguration ceremony on the 17th.

About 500 people attended the ceremony, including Mayor Lee Soon-hee, former Prime Minister Chung Un-chan, National Assembly member Chun Jun-ho, city and district council members, and representatives of major organizations. The event proceeded with the awarding of appointment letters, congratulatory performances, inauguration button pressing, and placard performances.

Co-chairpersons of the Promotion Committee were appointed as Lee Eun-joo, President of Seoul Cyber University; Kang Jae-poong, representative of Sungin Market; Choi Yong-ho, President of the Central Federation of the Association of North Korean Residents; Lee Woo-tae, Director of Seoul Hyundai Hospital; and Lee Sung-woo, Chairman of the Residents' Autonomy Council.

In his greeting, Mayor Lee Soon-hee said, "While Seoul has grown into an international metropolis centered on the Gangnam area, the northeastern region has always been neglected as a development target," adding, "The Shin Gangbuk Line is not only a realization of Seoul's balanced development but also the minimum right for improving the quality of life of citizens in the northeastern area."

He continued, "Each section of the Shin Gangbuk Line passes through areas undergoing large-scale redevelopment and reconstruction," emphasizing, "Transportation must be innovated to increase foot traffic, revitalize the local economy, and improve profitability. This is why Gangbuk-gu is striving to attract the Shin Gangbuk Line?to achieve regional balanced development."

The Shin Gangbuk Line is a long-standing wish of the residents and the number one pledge of Mayor Lee Soon-hee. Currently, Gangnam-gu has 33 Seoul subway stations, whereas Gangbuk-gu has only three stations on Line 4 and eight stations on the Ui-Sinseol light rail line, which is significantly fewer compared to other districts, and these two lines do not allow transfers.

The Shin Gangbuk Line route covers a total distance of 10 km, running from 4.19 Democratic Cemetery Station to Gwangsan Intersection, Gangbuk-gu Office Intersection, Uicheon Station, Kwangwoon University, Jangwi New Town, Seokgwan Middle School, Sinimun Station, and Sangbong Station. It plans to connect with subway Line 1, Lines 4 and 7, Gyeongui-Jungang Line, Gyeongchun Line, Ui-Sinseol Line, and the Dongbuk Line scheduled to open in 2026, enabling round trips to the Gangnam area to be reduced from the current 1 hour 30 minutes to about 40 minutes.

The line will pass through six districts including Gangbuk-gu, Nowon-gu, Dobong-gu, Dongdaemun-gu, Seongbuk-gu, and Jungnang-gu, innovatively improving the transportation infrastructure of northeastern Seoul.

Since the beginning of the 8th local government term, the district has been thoroughly preparing to ensure that the Shin Gangbuk Line is included as a new route in the 'Second Seoul Urban Railway Network Construction Plan Amendment,' which will be developed starting in 2023.

The district's goal is to have the Shin Gangbuk Line reflected in the plan by 2025, when the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will give final approval to the amendment.

Previously, in 2022, the district enacted the 'Ordinance on the Promotion and Support of the Shin Gangbuk Line' and has been operating an advisory committee composed of experts from various fields and resident representatives.

Last year, the district commissioned a 'Pre-feasibility Study for the Shin Gangbuk Urban Railway,' and from the inauguration of the Promotion Committee, it has been actively conducting an on- and offline signature campaign involving all residents to attract the Shin Gangbuk Line. The results of the study and the signature campaign will be submitted to the Seoul Metropolitan Government in the first half of this year.

Mayor Lee Soon-hee stated, "To ensure the Shin Gangbuk Line is successfully attracted, local politicians will mobilize all their capabilities and closely cooperate with neighboring autonomous districts and the Seoul Metropolitan Government," adding, "Gangbuk-gu will become the hub of all directions in the northeastern area."

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