Subway Coming to Hanam... Line 5 Extension 'Hanam Line' Opens on the 8th

Seoul Metropolitan Subway Line 5 Extension 'Hanam Line' Double-Track Railway Route Map (Provided by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport)

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The city of Hanam in Gyeonggi Province will have its first subway line.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 4th that the first phase of the Hanam Line, an extension of Seoul Subway Line 5 connecting Hanam Misa District and Pungsan-dong, will begin operation on the 8th. The first phase covers the section from Sangil-dong Station to Hanam Pungsan Station.

The first phase of the Hanam Line project, with a total length of 4.7 km, has been underway for 5 years and 5 months since construction began in March 2015, with a total project cost of 622.6 billion KRW. The section from Sangil-dong Station, the current terminus of Line 5, through Gangil Station, Misa Station, to Hanam Pungsan Station will open this time. However, Gangil Station is scheduled to open in December.

The trains will consist of one 8-car set, operating at intervals of about 10 minutes during rush hours and 12 to 24 minutes during off-peak hours. The average speed is approximately 40 km/h.

Before the official opening, an opening ceremony will be held on the 7th at the Misa Station concourse. Due to social distancing guidelines amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of attendees on-site will be minimized. Instead, the event will be live-streamed on YouTube so that the general public can watch.

With the opening of the first phase of the Hanam Line, the public transportation environment for Hanam residents is expected to improve significantly. Using the Hanam Line, it will take only 47 minutes to reach Gangnam Station from Hanam Pungsan Station. Commuting for Hanam residents traveling to Seoul is expected to become much easier. Misa Station will feature a transfer center with parking for 820 bicycles and smart mobility options, while Hanam Pungsan Station will have a plaza that can be used as an event space for local residents, enhancing convenience for the community.

The remaining second phase of the Hanam Line (total length 2.9 km) is scheduled to open in December. Upon completion of the second phase, the Hanam Line will be fully completed with a total length of 7.7 km and five stations from Sangil-dong Station to Hanam Geomdansan Station. The total project cost is approximately 978.7 billion KRW, with 369.2 billion KRW from the national government, 252.8 billion KRW from local governments, and 329.7 billion KRW from Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH).

Lee Woo-je, Director of Metropolitan Facility Operations at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, said, "With the opening of part of the Hanam Line, a metropolitan subway line, we expect significant contributions to improving transportation convenience for local residents and to regional economic development."