"Gimpo Amphibious Bus? Lament Arises: 'Crushed or Drowned'"

Lee Jae-seon, chairman of the Gimpo Urban Railway (Gimpo Gold Line) labor union, pointed out that the fundamental cause of the overcrowding phenomenon on the Gimpo Gold Line is the failure to expand transportation infrastructure despite the development of new towns. Regarding the introduction of amphibious buses, which is mentioned as one of the countermeasures, he criticized its effectiveness, saying, "Among Gimpo citizens, there are lamenting voices like 'Will we be crushed or drowned?'"

Amphibious bus showcased at the test drive event held around Suyeongman Yacht Marina in Haeundae-gu, Busan
[Image source=Yonhap News]

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Chairman Lee appeared on YTN Radio's "News King with Park Ji-hoon" on the 18th and said, "There were talks about attracting Line 9 and Line 5, but none succeeded. Since Gimpo City built the light rail on its own, due to funding shortages, it ended up being a two-car train."

He also said that the issue arose because "I think it is related to elections," adding, "(Elected officials such as local government heads) tend to appeal most to citizens by expanding transportation means. Even though it was right to have four-car trains at the time, due to lack of funds, they settled for two-car trains."

Chairman Lee said that the number of people experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath while using the Gimpo Gold Line is likely higher than the actual recorded figures, stating, "During the morning rush hour, when arriving at Gimpo Airport Station, there are always two or three people resting on the platform for each train."

He explained the staffing situation of the Gimpo Gold Line: "Out of 10 stations, six stations operate with a single staff member, the remaining four stations have two staff members only from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and during early morning or late night hours, there is only one staff member on duty."

On the 14th, passengers using the Gimpo Gold Line, notorious as the "Hell Train" due to overcrowding during rush hours, are disembarking at Seoul Gimpo Airport Station, where problems such as patients experiencing breathing difficulties continue to occur. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

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When asked if additional staffing is needed, he said, "Since it is contracted out to the private sector, even if Gimpo City wants to provide more personnel, it cannot. The contractor, Seoul Transportation Corporation, seems unwilling to increase staff at their own expense."

Regarding solutions to the overcrowding issue, Chairman Lee emphasized, "The subway is a problem, but the road conditions in Gimpo City are also not good. The only routes to Seoul are Olympic-daero and the Singok IC intersection, and these roads are extremely congested during rush hour. Increasing buses is necessary, but expanding roads leading to Seoul is also needed."

He added, "Gimpo City has confirmed the development of a compact city with 46,000 households coming in, and the population could increase by more than 100,000. It would be reassuring for citizens if the extension of Line 5 or Line 9 is confirmed and construction proceeds before the compact city development."

Regarding the introduction of amphibious buses, he raised doubts about their effectiveness, saying, "Gimpo is a military border area with many military facilities, so I think there will be many restrictions on operating such transportation."

He continued, "Among citizens, there are self-deprecating voices like 'Do we have to skate in winter?' and 'Do we have to wear life jackets when going to work?'"

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