[Interview] Lee Sunhee, Gangbuk-gu Mayor: "We Will Make the New Gangbuk Line a Transportation Hub with Access in All Directions"

Shingangbuk Line to Pass Through 6 Districts Including Gangbuk, Nowon, Dobong, Dongdaemun, Seongbuk, and Jungnang... Transfers Available to Lines 1, 4, 6, 7, Uisinseol, and Dongbuk Lines... Feasibility Study to Begin Next Month... "Seoul City, Ministry of Land, and Nearby Districts Collaborate to Secure Shingangbuk Line"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] “We will attract the Sin Gangbuk Line and establish Gangbuk-gu as the central city of the northeastern region.”

Lee Soon-hee, the mayor of Gangbuk-gu, stated, “To transform Gangbuk-gu into a self-sufficient city, expanding transportation infrastructure is the most urgent task.” She announced that attracting the Sin Gangbuk Line will be a core project of the 8th local government term to drive the development of Gangbuk-gu.

Currently, Gangbuk-gu’s own revenue is about one-fifth that of Gangnam-gu, ranking among the lowest in Seoul’s autonomous districts, while the elderly population ratio is the highest, resulting in a large portion of the budget being allocated to welfare projects. The mayor says that the first puzzle piece to resolving the regional disparity between Gangnam and Gangbuk is precisely the expansion of transportation infrastructure. The idea is that better transportation environments will increase both floating and resident populations, expand living areas, and naturally lead to regional development.

The Sin Gangbuk Line is an urban railway planned to pass through the northeastern area of Seoul, consisting of 11 stations from 4.19 Democracy Cemetery Station, passing Wolgye 2 Bridge, to Sangbong Station. It passes through six autonomous districts: Gangbuk, Nowon, Dobong, Dongdaemun, Seongbuk, and Jungnang, connecting six lines in total: Line 1, Line 4, Line 6, Line 7, the recently opened Ui-Sinseol Line, and the soon-to-open Dongbuk Line.

Currently, Gangbuk-gu is classified as an area with particularly poor transportation conditions even within Seoul. It has a total of 11 subway stations, but before the opening of the Ui-Sinseol Line in 2017, it only had three stations: Suyu, Mia, and Mia Sageori. It is also the only autonomous district without a transfer station.

The mayor said, “To put it simply, Gangbuk-gu’s transportation infrastructure is about one-third that of Gangnam-gu,” adding, “For regional balanced development, the Sin Gangbuk Line must be attracted.”

The mayor’s focus on expanding transportation infrastructure stems from this background. The logic is that the polarization between Gangnam and Gangbuk is worsening due to transportation disparities. She stated, “If the Sin Gangbuk Line is attracted, it will not only resolve the transportation gap between Gangnam and Gangbuk but also balance regional development.” She explained that the establishment of transportation facilities would enhance residential value and bring about overall regional economic growth effects, including employment, leisure, and culture.

Lee Soon-hee expressed this determination by reorganizing the organization immediately after taking office. On August 1, she established the “Mayor’s Direct Redevelopment and Reconstruction Support Group,” the “Municipal Children’s Hospital Construction TF Team,” and the “Sin Gangbuk Line Promotion TF Team.” The Sin Gangbuk Line Promotion Team is responsible for tasks such as ▲ feasibility study for attracting the Sin Gangbuk urban railway ▲ operation of a policy advisory group ▲ enactment of ordinances supporting the Sin Gangbuk Line promotion ▲ public relations to attract the Sin Gangbuk Line.

The area around Hancheon-ro, through which the Sin Gangbuk Line passes, has high transportation demand. There are many apartment complexes in Gangbuk, Dobong, and Nowon, and large-scale redevelopment projects are underway in Seongbuk-gu as well. However, not only is there no urban railway, but only one trunk bus is operated, causing significant inconvenience to residents.

The mayor said, “Until now, development has been focused on Gangnam for regional progress, but now it is time to promote development centered on Gangbuk.” She expressed her ambition to attract the Sin Gangbuk Line and improve the quality of life for residents in the northeastern region.

However, there is a major challenge to attracting the Sin Gangbuk Line. Since the authority to attract it lies with Seoul City and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Gangbuk-gu must prove and persuade the feasibility and business viability of attracting the Sin Gangbuk Line. Gangbuk-gu plans to establish a close cooperation system with neighboring autonomous districts, Seoul City, and Ministry of Land officials to ensure that the Sin Gangbuk Line route is reflected in the “2nd Seoul Urban Railway Network Construction Plan Amendment” scheduled for 2024.

Lee Soon-hee, mayor of Gangbuk-gu, said, “The feasibility study for attracting the Sin Gangbuk Line is scheduled to begin next month. There are sufficient reasons to attract the Sin Gangbuk Line, such as resident demand and regional balanced development,” adding, “Whether it proceeds depends on the will of myself and the residents. I will do my best to unite with the residents to attract the Sin Gangbuk Line.”

She continued, “I will not lose the original intention to make Gangbuk-gu the true central city of northeastern Seoul and will always be a mayor who supports the residents by their side. As Gangbuk-gu’s vision is ‘Gangbuk that empowers my life,’ I will always be a mayor who supports the residents by their side.”