This Neighborhood Had No Subway Station: The Dramatic Transformation of Sinwol-dong

Shedding the Stigma of Airport Noise and Transportation Isolation
Educational, Cultural, and Redevelopment Projects in Full Swing
Lee Gijae, Mayor of Yangcheon District: "Delegation of Seoul City's Authority Is Essential"

Sinwol-dong in Yangcheon District, Seoul, which has always been called a "fringe area" despite being adjacent to the city center, is rapidly transforming. Overcoming its long-standing limitations as a transportation-isolated area with no subway stations and as a neighborhood affected by aircraft noise, Sinwol-dong is now seeing improvements in residential environments as well as educational and cultural infrastructure. This is the result of Yangcheon District making "balanced development of the Sinwol area" a core goal and launching tailored projects in earnest since the start of the 8th popularly elected term.

On the 26th, Lee Gijae, Mayor of Yangcheon District, held a press briefing at the Neopdeul Future Education Center in Sinjeong-dong and stated, "If regional imbalances persist, the growth engine of the entire city weakens," adding, "We are realizing balanced development that reflects the characteristics of each area and the needs of residents."

Lee Gijae, Mayor of Yangcheon District, is explaining to reporters on the 26th about recent changes in Sinwol-dong at the Neoldeuldeul Future Education Center. Provided by Yangcheon District.

Airport Noise: From "Complaints" to "Compensation"

Sinwol-dong, which borders Gimpo Airport, is home to 28% of Yangcheon District's total population and is a major residential area, yet over 40,000 households suffer from aircraft noise. Yangcheon District did not treat residents' suffering as mere complaints but instead implemented a practical compensation measure: the first-ever "district tax reduction" in the country.

Since July 2023, residents who own a single home within the airport noise countermeasure area have been eligible for up to a 60% reduction in property tax (district tax portion). In addition, the district established and operates its own Airport Noise Comprehensive Support Center, providing "everyday support" such as hearing tests, hearing aid assistance, and psychological counseling.

Within just two years, a lifelong learning center, a cultural and arts center, and a future education center have opened one after another along Nambu Beltway in Sinwol-dong. The lifelong learning center, which offers practical skills education such as cooking and gardening, is seeing rapidly increasing resident participation, while the Sinwol Cultural and Arts Center has invigorated local culture with music and traditional culture classes.

The "Neopdeul Future Education Center" for youth completes Yangcheon District’s three-region future education network, allowing children in Sinwol-dong to benefit from advanced competency education within their own neighborhood. These facilities symbolically represent the district's goal of "bridging the educational and cultural gap between Mok-dong and non-Mok-dong areas."

Mayor Lee stated, "The biggest problem in the Sinwol area is that there is airport noise, which shouldn't exist, and there is no subway, which should exist," adding, "From the perspective that true balanced development means improving the realities and limitations of the area, I established systems and improved infrastructure with the mindset that 'we will directly take care of residents' suffering,' something none of my predecessors did."

The annex of Yangcheon District Public Health Center, which opened last March to serve as a health and welfare hub for Sinwol and Sinjeong districts. Provided by Yangcheon District.

Redevelopment Gains Momentum... Sinwol-dong Enters the "First Subway Station Era"

Reconstruction and redevelopment of old residential areas are changing the atmosphere of the region. The "Sinwol Siyoeng Apartments," designated as a redevelopment zone in August, consists of 3,149 units and will become the largest complex in Sinwol-dong once the project gets underway. Public and private redevelopment projects are also accelerating in the Sinwol 1, 3, 5, and 7-dong Moa Towns and public housing complex projects. To prevent conflicts, the district established an Urban Development Promotion Team and has institutionalized education for residents to better understand redevelopment projects. Emphasis has also been placed on "on-site communication."

The long-standing wish of Sinwol-dong residents has been a subway. With the approval of the "Daejang-Hongdae Line Private Investment Project," which is set to break ground next month, that wish is expected to be partially fulfilled. Once completed, this line will newly connect Sinwol-dong to the Bucheon Daejang District and Mapo Hongdae, improving transportation accessibility for the area.

The "Western Truck Terminal Urban Advanced Logistics Complex" project, which had stalled for nine years, has now entered full swing with a recent groundbreaking ceremony. The site, including the terminal, will be developed into a smart industrial cluster combining residential, commercial, shopping, and logistics facilities. On nearby public contribution land, the construction of the "Sinjeong Sports Center," equipped with a swimming pool and indoor tennis courts, has also been announced. Public service infrastructure such as a new annex for the public health center and the relocation of the community service center complex is also being rapidly upgraded.

Meanwhile, the re-promotion of the Mokdong Line, extension of the Sinjeong Branch Line, and relocation of the Sinjeong Vehicle Depot are additional transportation issues that Mayor Lee has identified as priorities to address.

The scene at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Western Truck Terminal held on the 4th. Provided by Yangcheon District.

"To Achieve Balanced Development, Power Must Be Shared"... A Stern Message to Seoul City

Cultural festivals that utilize local identity are also attracting attention. The "Yangcheon Rock Festival" is a music festival that turns aircraft noise into white noise, and over the past three years, more than 20,000 visitors have attended, establishing it as a leading cultural event in the area. New leisure spaces such as the water park at West Seoul Lake Park and the Jiyangsan Jiyang Forest Park also symbolize resident-friendly changes.

Mayor Lee did not hold back criticism of Seoul City. He said, "Even creating a single leisure space for residents is an uphill battle," and added, "It was extremely difficult to get approval to install a water park in West Seoul Lake Park because it is under city management."

He continued, "Although 30 years have passed since local autonomy, Seoul City still clings to too much authority." Mayor Lee pointed out, "While Mayor Oh Sehoon of Seoul is asking the central government to 'devolve local authority,' Seoul City should first delegate its own powers to the district offices," adding, "That is the way to enhance the competitiveness of Seoul as a whole," criticizing the city's rigid administration and concentration of power.

Mayor Lee also noted that Seoul City needs to change its perception regarding redevelopment in airport noise-affected areas. He argued that in such areas, measures such as adjusting the rate of public contributions should be used to enhance project feasibility and promote revitalization.

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