‘GTX·Shinbundang Line·Daejang Hongdae Line’... Why They Are 'All In'

The efforts to expand the metropolitan transportation network in the region and to promote these efforts have made local government heads busier. The photo shows Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong and Dobong-gu Mayor Oh Eon-seok (right in the photo) giving opening remarks at the 'GTX-C Changdong Station Residents' Meeting' held at Changdong Aurune in May. (Photo by Dobong-gu)

원본보기 아이콘

Transportation network developments such as the expansion of the Metropolitan Area Express Railway (GTX) are long-standing regional projects that have the greatest impact on local development, housing prices, land values, and the property rights of local residents. As a result, they are the top concerns of local government heads and district members of the National Assembly elected every four years, and are major pledges included by both ruling and opposition parties.

Although these are national projects and cannot be carried out solely at the discretion of local government heads, the process and outcomes often become part of their achievements or mistakes. These successes and failures can also provide grounds for attacks from opposing parties, significantly influencing elections.

Dobong-gu’s enthusiastic response to the signing of the GTX-C line implementation agreement between the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Hyundai Construction Consortium on the 22nd is in a similar context. On the 24th, Dobong-gu promoted the agreement signing, the plan to start construction within the year, and the goal of opening in 2028. Oh Eun-seok, the mayor of Dobong-gu, said, “We will not stop at the introduction of GTX-C but will work closely with related agencies to introduce the Suseo-origin SRT Changdong Station in the future so that residents of Dobong-gu can use both GTX and SRT.”

Eunpyeong-gu, which had been expecting the northwest extension of the Shinbundang Line, officially expressed regret this week over Seoul City’s failure to pass the preliminary feasibility study for the project. The northwest extension of the Shinbundang Line is a project to connect the current Shinbundang Line, which runs to Sinsa Station in Gangnam-gu, through Yongsan and Eunpyeong-gu to Samsong in Goyang.

The northwest extension of the Shinbundang Line was included in the 3rd National Railroad Network Construction Plan in 2016. After the preliminary feasibility study mid-term review judged the project economically unviable, Seoul City submitted a route re-planning proposal at the end of 2021 and proceeded with the preliminary feasibility study process. Despite efforts by Eunpyeong-gu, including delivering a petition signed by 300,000 residents to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Seoul City, and holding a residents’ rally urging early construction, the project was canceled.

Kim Mi-kyung, mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, said, “Residents of Eunpyeong-gu have endured chronic congestion on Tongil-ro and waited in hopeful torment for over ten years. Despite major projects scheduled such as the National Korean Literature Museum, expected to be completed in 2026, and the development of the Seoul Innovation Park site, we deeply regret the preliminary feasibility study results, which were trapped in economic logic.” She added, “We will work closely with Seoul City to find alternatives.”

Daegang-Hongdae Line Approximate Route Map (Provided by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport)

원본보기 아이콘

Mapo-gu, which is pushing for the addition of Digital Media City (DMC) Station on the Daejang-Hongdae Line connecting Bucheon Daejang New Town in Gyeonggi-do and Hongdae Entrance Station in Mapo, announced on the 22nd that Park Kang-su, mayor of Mapo-gu, met with Kang Hee-eop, chairman of the Metropolitan Area Wide-area Transportation Committee of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, to repeatedly urge the addition of DMC Station. Park also promoted the district administration, saying he had strongly requested the addition of DMC Station on the Daejang-Hongdae Line when he met with Minister Won Hee-ryong of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in May.

Mayor Park Kang-su emphasized, “If Digital Media City Station is added to the Daejang-Hongdae Line, commuting convenience will dramatically improve not only for Sangam-dong but also for nearby residents of Gyeonggi-do. Since transportation demand is expected to increase sharply due to development projects in the area, this is essential to alleviate traffic inconvenience and promote the development of western Seoul.”

Dongdaemun-gu also held a meeting this week to discuss the construction of a single-track railway between Wangsimni and Cheongnyangni Stations on the Suin-Bundang Line. The meeting, hosted by the mayor, was attended by the local district member of the National Assembly, party committee chairpersons, district council members, and members of the Cheongnyangni Suin-Bundang Line Promotion Committee, which was formed last month.

The Suin-Bundang Line, which runs from Bundang through Seolleung and Gangnam-gu Office to Wangsimni as the terminus, has been extended to Cheongnyangni Station since December 2018. However, the number of trains running on this section is low, causing inconvenience to passengers. Since the section between Wangsimni and Cheongnyangni uses the Gyeongui-Jungang Line tracks instead of Suin-Bundang Line tracks, increasing the number of trains is impossible. Therefore, they are requesting the construction of a single-track railway on this section.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport included the “Construction of a Single-Track Railway between Wangsimni and Cheongnyangni Stations” project as a new project in the 4th National Railroad Network Construction Plan in 2021, and the preliminary feasibility study results are expected by early next year at the latest.

원본보기 아이콘

Lee Pil-hyung, mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, said, “There is broad consensus on the necessity of constructing a single-track railway between Wangsimni and Cheongnyangni Stations, so we expect good results. The district will actively request the prompt promotion of this project to relevant agencies and will also cooperate administratively in any necessary aspects during the project implementation process.”

Issues related to transportation network expansion are long-standing regional projects involving many property-related interests. Moreover, with the 22nd National Assembly elections just over seven months away on April 10 next year, local promotional campaigns are expected to intensify further.

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.