Seongdong-gu Initiates Planning for Gyeongwon Line Undergrounding and Upper Space Development Project

Published 20 Mar.2024 07:18(KST)

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Wangsimni Station Area

Seongdong-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jung Won-oh) announced that it will take proactive measures to plan and develop the upper space by undergrounding the aboveground railway section of the Gyeongwon Line (operated by the Gyeongui-Jungang Line) within the district.

In January of this year, the Special Act on Undergrounding Railways and Integrated Development of Railway Sites (Railway Undergrounding Integrated Development Act) was enacted, marking the advent of the so-called aboveground railway era. The special act on railway undergrounding focuses on undergrounding aboveground railways and developing the secured aboveground railway sites and their surroundings.

The aboveground railway has long caused inconvenience to local residents in the Cheonggyecheon to Eungbong section due to noise. There have also been continuous demands from residents for improvements due to regional division and deterioration of urban aesthetics.

The aboveground railway section in Seongdong-gu covers 4.4 km of the Gyeongui-Jungang Line from Oksu through Wangsimni to Cheonggyecheon, passing through ▲Majang Livestock Market area ▲Wangsimni Station area ▲Eungbong Station area.

The district plans to prepare a development plan for the upper space that considers the characteristics and topography of each area to create spaces for residents.

The Majang Livestock Market area is a central region connecting Wangsimni and Cheongnyangni, where decline is ongoing in the surrounding areas, but there is high potential for development such as the future development of the Majang Livestock Market area. The Wangsimni Station area is a railway transportation hub with four lines passing through: Subway Lines 2 and 5, Suin-Bundang Line, and Gyeongui-Jungang Line. With the future opening of the GTX-C Line and Dongbuk Line, its status as a metropolitan transportation hub will be further strengthened. The Eungbong Station area has a topographical feature of being located between the Han River and Eungbong Mountain, characterized by a baesanimsu (mountain at the back, water in front) landscape.

Accordingly, Seongdong-gu will take phased measures in line with the schedules of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Seoul City for railway undergrounding integrated development. In April, it plans to commission a basic planning project to establish urban spatial concepts and development plans for the aboveground railway within the district to enable the execution of the Han River waterfront development plan.

In particular, Seongdong-gu, known as the city of water with the longest waterfront in Seoul, expects that the development of the aboveground section of the Gyeongui-Jungang Line along Jungnangcheon Stream and the Han River will greatly contribute to improving the landscape of the area. Given its unique business potential, successful waterfront cases both domestically and internationally will be carefully reviewed.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “The undergrounding of the Gyeongwon Line railway and the development of the upper space will lay the foundation for Seongdong-gu to soar as the most attractive city in Seoul.” He added, “By actively utilizing waterfront spaces such as the Han River and Jungnangcheon Stream that Seongdong-gu possesses, we will respond swiftly to ensure that the railway undergrounding project strengthens its status as a metropolitan center and expands spaces for residents.”