[Interview] Noh Hyun-song, Mayor of Gangseo-gu, Seoul: "Magok District Will Emerge as a Future-Oriented Industrial and Research Complex in the 4th Industrial Revolution Era"

Magok District Transformed into Advanced Industry and Research Complex Suited for 4th Industrial Era... Western Metropolitan Railroad Project Connecting Bucheon Wonjong ~ Hwagok ~ Goyang Deogeun ~ Hongdaeipgu Totaling 16.12km Gains Momentum... Airport Road District Unit Plan Revision Underway to Establish Development Direction Matching Local Characteristics Around Gonghang-daero Area

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] “The past decade has been a precious time during which the long-term core projects for Gangseo’s development?such as the construction of the Magok advanced city, the establishment of a medical tourism special zone, the relaxation of airport height restrictions, and the promotion of the Western Metropolitan Railroad?have become more concrete and yielded results,”

said Roh Hyun-song, Mayor of Seoul’s Gangseo District, who has served four terms including the 2nd and 5th to 7th elected terms, in an interview with this publication. “Based on the solid foundation and achievements steadily built up in district administration so far, I will devote all my efforts during the remaining term to successfully completing the creation of a premium city,” he stated.

Gangseo District is the fastest developing area even within the capital Seoul. Especially, with significant progress in large and medium-sized projects including the development of the Magok district, it has taken a step forward as a truly advanced first-class city.

In particular, the Magok district has been transformed into a cutting-edge industrial and research complex befitting the 4th Industrial Revolution era. Currently, over 160 companies have confirmed their move-in to the Magok industrial and research complex, and about 90 major domestic corporations such as LG Science Park, Lotte, and Kolon operate R&D facilities there.

This year, various innovative companies including Iljin Electric Consortium, Kocom Consortium, and Daeyang Electric Industry are scheduled to move in additionally.

Mayor Roh said, “Soon, once the R&D center, M Convergence Campus, and MICE complex are completed, Magok will stand out even more as a future-oriented industrial and research complex leading innovative growth in the 4th Industrial Revolution era,” adding, “We will strive to establish Magok, the nation’s top research and development complex, as a new growth engine responsible for Seoul’s economic vitality.”

Another growth axis of Gangseo District, the project to relax height restrictions, has also achieved considerable results. Mayor Roh emphasized, “Since enacting the first-ever ordinance in the nation to promote the relaxation of height restrictions, we have completed the groundwork for practical relaxation by leading revisions to the Aviation Act and the designation and announcement of aeronautical review agencies,” and added, “We are continuously consulting with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the International Civil Aviation Organization, and the National Assembly to ensure that substantial relaxation of height restrictions can be realized promptly.”

Alongside this, the Western Metropolitan Railroad project, connecting Bucheon Wonjong ? Hwagok ? Goyang Deok-eun ? Hongdae Entrance over a total of 16.12 km, is gaining momentum. The project has accelerated as the vehicle depot issue was resolved on a grand scale and a broad consensus on project promotion was reached among related agencies. Recently, the possibility of promoting the Western Metropolitan Railroad project through private investment has opened, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is reviewing administrative procedures.

Mayor Roh is also focusing on improving living environments by expanding insufficient infrastructure.

The district is actively pushing forward the construction of the Gangseo Safety Education Center, aiming for its opening in 2022. This center, the first attempt at the local government level, will be built in Naebalsan-dong with three floors above ground and a total floor area of 3,780㎡. It will feature hands-on experience facilities closely related to daily life such as typhoons, earthquakes, fine dust, yellow dust, first aid, and traffic safety, as well as a civil defense training hall.

Additionally, the area around Hwagok Tunnel will see the construction of the Gangseo Cultural Center by 2022. The Magok Cultural Street project, whose plan was finalized in August last year, is also being promoted in connection with the surrounding commercial districts, and the Seoul Library branch project is gaining momentum.

Efforts are underway to resolve the imbalance between the old and new downtown areas that accompany the growth of the Magok district. First, the district unit plan around Kkachisan Station, which is a station area but has seen slow development, is being reorganized. After completing the resident inspection announcement in September last year and consulting with Seoul City in May this year, the Kkachisan Station district unit plan area was expanded by 15,659㎡ from the existing 205,510㎡ to 221,169㎡.

Also, the district is promoting a reorganization project for the Airport Road district unit plan to establish development directions suited to the characteristics of the area around Airport-daero.

Furthermore, efforts are being made to raise zoning classifications around Hwagok Station and actively discover specialized urban regeneration projects reflecting local conditions for alleyways, traditional markets, and low-rise residential areas, thereby drawing out the latent growth potential of the old downtown.

Mayor Roh Hyun-song said, “This year, we will further solidify the future growth foundation of premium city Gangseo while steadily preparing for the post-COVID-19 era,” and requested, “I ask for the unwavering support of the 600,000 residents so that policies embodying the dreams and hopes of premium city Gangseo can be completed without any setbacks.”