Early Construction of the Third National Railway Network Plan for the Northwest Extension of the Shinbundang Line as Originally Proposed... New Goyang Line Connecting with the Western Line to Include New Sinsagogae Station... Seoul Northern Station (Susaek Station, DMC Station) Designated as Eurasia Railway Departure Station... Urging the Opening of 'Gangbuk Area Road Network' Linking Eunpyeong Saegil and Pyeongchang Tunnel
After finishing the meeting with Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Byeon Chang-heum (center), Eunpyeong District Mayor Kim Mi-kyung (left) and National Assembly member Park Joo-min (right) are posing.
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong District, and Park Ju-min, Member of the National Assembly, held a meeting with Byeon Chang-heum, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, on the 20th to strongly request the government to actively promote the pending issues of Eunpyeong District at the government level.
According to Eunpyeong District, on the afternoon of the 20th, Mayor Kim Mi-kyung and Assemblyman Park Ju-min met with Minister Byeon Chang-heum at the Seoul Office of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in the Government Complex and actively proposed the prompt advancement of the ‘Shinbundang Line extension’ and other pending issues of Eunpyeong District.
The ‘main cooperation agenda’ is as follows.
Request for early commencement of the Northwest extension of the Shinbundang Line as per the original plan of the 3rd National Railway Network Construction Plan
Mayor Kim Mi-kyung requested the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s cooperation to review the preliminary feasibility study conducted by the Korea Development Institute (KDI) on the Shinbundang Line extension, specifically regarding the conversion traffic volume on Tongil-ro (road traffic → railway) and the fare system being higher than GTX-A, so that new transportation demands such as Changneung New Town and the opening of St. Mary’s Hospital can be reflected.
She also urged the government to actively complete the preliminary feasibility study of the Shinbundang Line extension, a long-standing wish of the residents in the northwest area, according to the original announcement of the 3rd National Railway Network Construction Plan, and to promptly commence construction to resolve the severe traffic congestion on Tongil-ro.
To prevent confusion among residents caused by unclear information circulating on social media regarding changes in the route and station locations of the Shinbundang Line extension and the timing of the preliminary feasibility study results, she requested transparent promotion at the government level.
Request to establish Sinsagogae Station when constructing the Goyang Line linked with the Seobu Line
The Seobu Light Rail, operating from Saejeol Station to Seoul National University Entrance, passed the private investment feasibility in June last year and the plan announcement in November, and currently, a public notice for selecting a business operator is underway.
Seobu Line Urban Railway
· Route: Saejeol Station ~ Chungam High School ~ Yeouido ~ Seoul National University Entrance (16.15 km)
· June 2020: Passed private investment feasibility (Ministry of Strategy and Finance), November 2020: Plan announcement
The Goyang Line was announced in May 2019 as a metropolitan transportation improvement measure for the 3rd phase Changneung New Town, operating from Saejeol Station in Eunpyeong District to Hyangdong and Goyang City Hall without reflecting Sinsagogae Station (located in Sinsa-dong, Eunpyeong District).
Goyang Line subway plan
- Route: Saejeol Station ~ Hyangdong ~ Changneung ~ Hwajeong District ~ Goyang City Hall
- Implementing body: LH Corporation (Gyeonggi Province, Goyang City, Seoul City)
- Implementation period: 2019 ~ 2029
The Sinsagogae area has reached the limit of road capacity in Eunpyeong District due to the inflow of traffic from Goyang City and the new town, and to alleviate traffic congestion in Sinsa-dong and the Susaek redevelopment area, the establishment of Sinsagogae Station, a long-standing wish of residents, was proposed.
Regarding the establishment of Sinsagogae Station, a petition signed by 293,000 Eunpyeong residents was submitted to relevant agencies (Ministry of Strategy and Finance, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Seoul City) in November 2019, and continuous requests for the station’s establishment have been made to LH Corporation, the Metropolitan Transport Planning Committee, and Goyang City.
Linking the Seobu Line and the Goyang Line with the establishment of Sinsagogae Station is expected not only to alleviate local traffic congestion but also to promote mutual cooperation and regional development between residents of Eunpyeong and Goyang.
Designation of Seoul Northern Station (Susaek Station, DMC Station) as the starting station of the Eurasia Railway
The tentatively named Seoul Northern Station (Susaek Station, DMC Station) has secured large-scale development sites nearby, including the Susaek Station area development project, and is located near major metropolitan transportation facilities such as the new airport railway directly connected to Incheon International Airport, the Gyeongui-Jungang Line, and the Gangbuk Transversal Line. Therefore, a request was made to designate it as the starting station of the Eurasia Railway in the ‘4th National Railway Network Construction Plan’ promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
Seoul Northern Station is geopolitically well-positioned to be selected as the starting station of the Eurasia Railway and is expected to become a new economic hub for international passenger and freight transport connecting the Korean Peninsula, China, Russia, Central Asia, and Europe as a future unification economic base.
To this end, Eunpyeong District is currently conducting a feasibility study on the starting station of the Eurasia Railway and plans to actively share and consult the study results with relevant agencies such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to ensure they are reflected in the national railway network construction plan.
Seoul Northern Station development site
Urgent call for the opening of the 'Gangbuk area road network' linking Eunpyeong Saegil and Pyeongchang Tunnel
With the construction of Eunpyeong New Town, Goyang’s Samsong, Wonheung, Hyangdong, Jichuk districts, and the upcoming 3rd phase Changneung New Town, traffic congestion on Tongil-ro is expected to worsen, prompting a request for the early opening of the 'Gangbuk area road network' linking Eunpyeong Saegil and Pyeongchang Tunnel.
Currently, the new town generates 100,000 vehicles per day, with 40,000 (40%) entering the city center. To disperse traffic, the construction of the 2nd Tongil-ro (Eunpyeong Saegil) is urgently needed.
Previously, efforts were made to connect Eunpyeong Saegil from Bulgwang-dong (Tongil-ro) to Buam-dong, Jongno-gu (Jahamun-ro), but since the original plan was difficult to implement, an alternative linking Eunpyeong Saegil and Pyeongchang Tunnel was proposed to Seoul City in October 2019. A task force team consisting of three districts (Eunpyeong-gu, Jongno-gu, Seongbuk-gu) related to Eunpyeong Saegil has been formed to discuss and prepare detailed alternatives.
Section of the Eunpyeong Saegil project
Once the 'Gangbuk area road network' linking Eunpyeong Saegil and Pyeongchang Tunnel is completed, it will not only alleviate severe congestion on Tongil-ro but also enable rapid movement from the northwest to the northern and northeastern parts of Seoul without passing through the city center, and it will fulfill the functions of the future Changneung New Town.
Promotion of the Changneungcheon comprehensive maintenance project
Large-scale housing development projects centered on Changneungcheon (Wonheung District, Samsong District, Eunpyeong New Town) have been completed, and the Jichuk District housing development project is currently underway. However, residents nearby face difficulties in using and accessing the river space, making river environment improvement urgent. Eunpyeong District plans to conduct a feasibility study on the comprehensive maintenance of Changneungcheon in the first half of this year.
Additionally, cooperation for the revision of the basic plan and requests for national budget support for the maintenance project of Changneungcheon, located on the boundary between Eunpyeong New Town and Goyang City’s Jichuk District, were made.
Expansion of housing supply by easing standards for station area project sites
As a measure to expand housing supply in station areas, it was proposed to extend the station area radius from the current 350 meters to 500 meters, include areas where redevelopment has been canceled under the station area project, and improve the system so that maintenance projects can proceed smoothly.
Utilization of military facility sites in Jingwan-dong
Proposals focused on balanced development of Eunpyeong District, which has been relatively neglected in development, included relocating military facilities adjacent to Bukhansan Korean Culture Special Zone and schools in Jingwan-dong, and expanding cultural and sports facilities.
Meanwhile, Assemblyman Park Ju-min urged, “The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport should take responsibility and play an active role in improving transportation convenience for Eunpyeong residents, including the establishment of Sinsagogae Station on the Goyang Line, and in balanced regional development of the northwest area.”
After the meeting, Mayor Kim Mi-kyung of Eunpyeong District stated, “There is nothing more futile than promises made without any effort. How seriously would someone unrelated to Eunpyeong feel, worry, and work hard to solve Eunpyeong’s transportation problems?” “As the mayor of Eunpyeong District and a resident who has lived here for 47 years, I know better than anyone that expanding the metropolitan transportation network is essential for Eunpyeong. Therefore, I can proudly say that I have made my best efforts, including meetings with the Prime Minister, former Ministers of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, a signature campaign with 300,000 Eunpyeong residents, joint responses with six local governments, and requests for related regulation amendments.”
She continued, “The efforts of the past few years are now gradually bearing fruit. Just as Hannam Bridge and the Gyeongbu Expressway opened the way for Gangnam’s development and provided momentum for its growth, now is the time to take an important step toward balanced development of northwest Seoul through the early promotion of the Shinbundang Line extension.”
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