Seocho-gu to Hold Symposium on Feb 28 at 2 PM Discussing Grade Separation (Undergrounding) of Gyeongbu Expressway and Gyeongbu Line Railroad... Discussion on 'Urban Expressway and Railroad Grade Separation,' a Long-Standing Seoul City Project

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Seocho-gu (Mayor Eunhee Cho) will hold a symposium titled “Three-dimensionalization of Metropolitan Expressways and Railroads” (Subtitle: Focusing on the Three-dimensionalization of Gyeongbu Expressway and Gyeongbu Line Railroad) at 2 p.m. on the 28th in the large conference room on the 10th floor of the Seoul Central Post Office Post Tower. The symposium is hosted by the Korean Society of Transportation and co-organized with the Korean Institute of Architects, the Korean Society for Tunnel and Underground Space, and the Korea Real Estate Development Association.

This symposium proposes a new urban regeneration paradigm emphasized by Seocho-gu. In particular, it simultaneously addresses the maintenance of urban infrastructure and the revitalization of housing supply by proposing the “Gyeongbu Expressway three-dimensionalization project and Gyeongbu Line railroad three-dimensionalization project,” which can act as a catalyst for balanced development in Seoul’s multi-nodal structure, creating a platform for in-depth social discussion.

Regarding the three-dimensionalization of the Gyeongbu Expressway, which is the subject of discussion, the district has long gathered public opinion. This is because the Gyeongbu Expressway, the main artery of Korea starting from Seocho-gu, has been unable to function as an intercity arterial road due to chronic congestion.

This three-dimensionalization project is feasible by utilizing private funds without public funding, and it can also solve housing problems by supplying public housing through the use of buffer green spaces along with traffic issues.

Specifically, the project involves undergrounding a total 6.8 km section from Hannam IC to Yangjae IC into a two-level double-deck tunnel to resolve chronic traffic congestion. On the ground space freed from automobiles, an eco-friendly urban park and 15,000 apartment units will be built to supply “youth homeownership.”

Additionally, the Gyeongbu Line railroad three-dimensionalization project will also underground approximately 11 km of the urban section from Seoul Station to Guro Station, enabling the creation of parks, housing supply, and station complex development in the upper space. This part will also be discussed in depth.

The main presentations include three topics: “Trends and Challenges of Three-dimensionalization of Urban Transit Facilities” (Professor Seongbong Jeong, Seoul National University of Science and Technology), “Gyeongbu Expressway Three-dimensionalization and Housing Supply Plans” (Professor Jeonghyeong Lee, Chung-Ang University), and “Seoul Station Integrated Development and Gyeongbu Railroad Three-dimensionalization Plans” (Professor Dongseon Kim, Daejin University).

After the presentations, a panel discussion will be held, moderated by Professor Changmoo Lee of Hanyang University’s Department of Urban Engineering, with experts including Dr. Junghyun Kim from the Korea Railroad Research Institute, Professor Jonggu Kim from Pusan National University, CEO Cheolsu Kim of Fides PMC, Professor Jongho Shin of the Korean Society for Tunnel and Underground Space, Director Changseop Han, former head of the Public Housing Construction Promotion Team at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Chief Architect Seongyong Hong of the architectural firm NCS lab.

The symposium will be held with a minimum number of attendees due to COVID-19 and will be simultaneously broadcast live online via Seocho-gu’s YouTube channel and the Korean Society of Transportation’s YouTube channel.

Seocho-gu Mayor Eunhee Cho said, “Through this symposium, which shows a new paradigm of urban regeneration, we expect it to be an opportunity not only to solve traffic and housing problems but also to upgrade Seoul’s urban competitiveness.”