Will the Undergrounding of the Aboveground Section between Hanyang University Station and Jamsil Station on Subway Line 2 Become an Issue in the June 1 Local Elections?

On the 18th, People Power Party's Seoul mayoral candidate Oh Se-hoon received a petition for the underground conversion of the aboveground section of Subway Line 2 from candidates Kim Kyung-ho of Gwangjin, Kang Maeng-hoon of Seongdong, and Seo Gang-seok of Songpa District Office.

On the 18th, Seoul mayoral candidate Oh Se-hoon received a proposal to underground the above-ground section of Subway Line 2, together with Kim Kyung-ho, candidate for Gwangjin District Mayor, and the People Power Party candidates for Seoul city and district council members.

On the 18th, Seoul mayoral candidate Oh Se-hoon received a proposal from Kim Kyung-ho of Gwangjin, Kang Maeng-hoon of Seongdong, Seo Kang-seok, candidates for Songpa District Mayor, Seoul City Council members, and Gwangjin District Council candidates to underground the aboveground section of Subway Line 2.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The underground conversion of the above-ground section of Seoul Subway Line 2 between Hanyang University Station and Jamsil Station is expected to become a major issue in the elections for Seongdong, Gwangjin, and Songpa districts.

In particular, Gwangjin District, which covers the largest area among these sections, has raised this issue since the 5th term of the civilian government and requested the Seoul Metropolitan Government to actively proceed with the project.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government had effectively taken no action, citing budget and other issues.

However, ahead of the June 1 local elections, People Power Party candidates from the Gwangjin area?Seoul mayoral candidate Oh Se-hoon, Gwangjin District mayoral candidate Kim Kyung-ho, Seongdong District mayoral candidate Kang Maeng-hoon, and Songpa District mayoral candidate Seo Kang-seok?have actively urged Mayor Oh to take action.

On the 18th, Mayor Oh visited the office of Gwangjin District mayoral candidate Kim Kyung-ho, received a proposal regarding the project from the three district mayoral candidates, and showed a positive response.

Seoul Subway Line 2 opened in 1980, but due to technical issues at the time, the 10.42 km section from Hanyang University Station to Jamsil Station was constructed as an above-ground section.

The noise pollution caused by the above-ground subway section passing through the city center is unbearable for citizens, and the above-ground section has long been a major obstacle to urban aesthetics and regional development. The underground conversion of this section has been a long-standing wish of the residents living along the above-ground railway.

However, the problem lies in funding. To solve this issue, it seems necessary to first conduct a feasibility study to devise a reasonable plan.

Due to the limitations of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s budget, options such as attracting private investment are expected to be considered.