Subway? Light Rail? ... Hanam Gyosan 'Rail Line' Caught in Dilemma

Initially Likely Extension of Line 3... Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Plans 'Songpa~Hanam Urban Railway'

Nearby Gam-il District Demands 'Line 3 Extension'
Industry Analyzes 'Light Rail as More Rational'

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Conflicts are intensifying over the Songpa-Hanam urban railway, part of the metropolitan transportation improvement plan for the Gyosan district in Hanam City, Gyeonggi Province, which is planned as the third phase of new towns in the Seoul metropolitan area. While residents in the nearby Gam-il district are strongly demanding the extension of Seoul Subway Line 3, voices from the industry suggest that a light rail transit (LRT) system could be a more reasonable alternative.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) and industry sources on the 2nd, the 'Hanam-Songpa Urban Railway Construction Resident Briefing and Expert Discussion' scheduled to be held at Hanam City Hall on the 30th of last month was canceled after residents of the nearby Gam-il district occupied the stage. The Gam-il district residents argue that since the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH), the project implementer of the district, has been promoting the Line 3 extension, the plan should proceed accordingly.

The conflict arose as the government prepared metropolitan transportation improvement measures following the development of the Hanam Gyosan district, a third-phase new town. In May, MOLIT decided to reconsider the railway measures for the Gam-il and Gyosan districts with an urban railway between Songpa and Hanam, as 39.8% of Hanam's intercity traffic is concentrated in Songpa and Gangdong districts.

Plan for the underground light rail connecting Jamsil among the Songpa~Hanam urban railway plans presented by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. (Provided by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport)

Since then, MOLIT has prepared three options: the existing Line 3 extension plan, a light rail transit connecting Jamsil-Gam-il-Gyosan-Hanam City Hall, and ground/underground trams. However, unlike the Gyosan district, which has yet to begin construction, residents of the already inhabited Gam-il district are opposing and insisting that the Line 3 extension should proceed as originally planned.

However, there is also a considerable opinion that the light rail transit is more suitable. First, the Line 3 extension plan faces issues securing the site for relocating the Suseo train depot, and trams are likely to be opposed by Seoul and nearby local governments due to concerns about traffic congestion on the ground sections around Wiryesong-daero in Songpa-gu. The industry fears that if related consultations are delayed and obstacles increase, a case similar to Wirye New Town, where railway transportation measures have not even started construction 10 years after residents moved in, could recur.

Lee Eun-hyung, a senior researcher at the Korea Construction Policy Research Institute, analyzed, "Since the purpose of new town railways is rapid connection to the city center, the light rail transit with a shorter project period is effective." He added, "However, due to past failures in projects in Uijeongbu and Yongin, residents may have strong resistance to light rail transit. Nevertheless, introducing light rail transit, which has fewer obstacles and faster project progress, would be more helpful for the initial settlement of the Gyosan district."