Calls Raised for Gwangju Songjeong Station Plaza Expansion to Become a National Project

Gwangsan District Council:
"Plaza and Surrounding Environment Must Be Improved Together"

The call for the expansion of the Gwangju Songjeong Station plaza has spread from the administrative level to the legislative body. The Gwangsan District Council stated that, despite the increasing number of users, the plaza remains small and the surrounding environment is outdated and has not been improved. The council emphasized that the expansion and functional improvement of the Gwangju Songjeong Station plaza should be promoted as a national project.

On January 29, the Gwangsan District Council issued a statement in front of Gwangju Songjeong Station, urging that the "Gwangju Songjeong Station Plaza Expansion Project" be promoted as a national project. The statement was announced by Assemblyman Park Haewon on behalf of the council.

Gwangju Songjeong Station serves as a key hub for railway transportation in the Honam region, with the average daily number of users rising from about 9,800 in 2022 to approximately 12,000 in 2024. However, due to the limited size of the station and the deteriorated surrounding environment, users continue to experience inconvenience. Critics have pointed out that these issues negatively affect the city's first impression and hinder regional development.

The Gwangsan District Council explained, "A station expansion project, which will double the area of Gwangju Songjeong Station at a total cost of 38.6 billion won, is currently underway with completion targeted for 2028." However, the council also emphasized, "Given the rapidly increasing demand and the station's future role as a railway hub for the planned integrated metropolitan city, expanding only the station building is not enough. The plaza expansion and functional improvements must be carried out simultaneously."

The council added, "Since December 2022, Gwangsan District has continuously appealed to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for the need to improve the station plaza in conjunction with the station expansion project, but it was excluded from the list of national projects." They further explained, "Although the district has decided to carry out partial remodeling using its own budget, this is extremely limited considering the role and status of Gwangju Songjeong Station."

Additionally, the council pointed out, "The area adjacent to Gwangju Songjeong Station is densely packed with old buildings, such as aging inns, which severely damage the city's appearance." They continued, "It is estimated that more than 100 billion won will be required for the demolition of these buildings, plaza expansion, and functional improvements-including land compensation, design, and construction costs. This is a scale that is difficult to cover with local finances alone."

The Gwangsan District Council stressed, "Gwangju Songjeong Station is not only the gateway representing the Honam region but also a key hub in the national railway network." The council emphasized that "fundamental redevelopment of the cramped and outdated space, and the creation of a dignified plaza and urban infrastructure, is a task that must be undertaken by the national government, not just the local community."

The council concluded, "We strongly urge that the Gwangju Songjeong Station plaza expansion and functional improvement project be promoted as a national project," adding, "We will make every effort to ensure the project proceeds swiftly, working closely with Gwangsan District."