[Interview] Dongdaemun-gu Mayor Ilhyung Lee: "Installation of Urban Airport Terminal at Cheongnyangni Station"

To develop Cheongnyangni as the transportation and commercial hub of Seoul's northeastern region, plans for the ‘Installation of Cheongnyangni Station Urban Airport Terminal’ are being closely coordinated and promoted with related organizations (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Seoul Metropolitan Government, Seoul Regional Aviation Administration, etc.)... Strengthening future competitiveness through revitalization of the Hongneung bio-complex area

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] “We plan to establish new departments strategically tasked with core projects such as the Future Happiness Policy Division, Building Safety Center, Fashion Apparel Sewing Team, Single-Person Household Support Team, Youth Policy Team, and Urban Drone Team, and to actively promote significant changes and leaps starting this year.”

Lee Pil-hyung, Mayor of Dongdaemun District Office, expressed his expectations for the organizational restructuring carried out in 2023 with the goal of ‘Dongdaemun District as a Future City by 2050’.

First, Mayor Lee said, “I believe that ‘changing Cheongnyangni is the key to changing Dongdaemun,’ and that Cheongnyangni is the starting point for Dongdaemun’s transformation and leap forward.”

With the prompt advancement of the Seoul Metropolitan Area Express Railway GTX-B (Incheon…Cheongnyangni…Namyangju), Line C (Yangju…Cheongnyangni…Suwon), Gangbuk Transversal Line (Cheongnyangni…Mok-dong), and Myeonmok Line (Cheongnyangni…Sinnae-dong), the railway accessibility of Cheongnyangni will be dramatically improved. By establishing the ‘GTX Cheongnyangni Station Metropolitan Transfer Center,’ the plan is to develop Cheongnyangni as the transportation and commercial hub of Seoul’s northeastern region. The GTX-C line is scheduled to sign the implementation agreement and begin construction in 2023, followed by GTX-B line construction in 2024, with respective openings planned for 2028 and 2030.

Simultaneously, Dongdaemun District plans to closely coordinate and promote the ‘Installation of Cheongnyangni Station Urban Airport Terminal’ with related organizations (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Seoul Metropolitan Government, Seoul Regional Aviation Administration, etc.) to allow passengers to complete boarding procedures and departure inspections in advance at Cheongnyangni Station and travel comfortably to Incheon Airport.

A drone taxi (UAM Urban Air Mobility) stop will be installed at Cheongnyangni Station, connecting Incheon and Gimpo Airports with Dongdaemun District to maximize the business and tourism linkage effects in Seoul’s northeastern region. Mayor Lee stated, “To promote this task, the ‘Urban Drone Team’ was newly established in January this year, and we expect to integrate fourth industrial revolution new technologies with administration,” presenting the future vision of Cheongnyangni, the heart of Dongdaemun District.

However, some voices express concerns that the push for an airport terminal and drone taxi stop at Cheongnyangni Station might be premature. In response, Mayor Lee said, “Of course, in the commercial drone sector, we are still in the preparatory stage, drawing preliminary plans such as management of densely populated areas and analysis of local vehicle flow. However, by proactively promoting this project alongside the establishment of the Cheongnyangni Station Metropolitan Transfer Center and through active cooperation with related organizations, investing manpower, time, and resources, I am confident that we can achieve concrete results within my term,” showing his confidence.

Alongside Cheongnyangni’s development, another pillar for propelling Dongdaemun into a future city is the creation of the so-called ‘Hongneung Bio Hub Valley,’ a medical and venture town in the Hongneung area. In recent years, the Hongneung area has actively nurtured and operated bio and medical startups centered around key hubs. Moreover, revitalizing the Hongneung area is also a campaign pledge of the Seoul Mayor. Seoul Metropolitan Government and Dongdaemun District are jointly working on the Hongneung R&D Support Center and Advanced Medical Device Development Center projects, and are pushing for the designation of the ‘Hongneung Bio-Medical Special Development Promotion District’ in 2023. Mayor Lee said, “Through the designation of the Bio-Medical Special Development Promotion District, we aim to support the stable settlement of emerging startups and attract private bio-medical companies, linking with major universities located in Dongdaemun District (Kyung Hee University, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, University of Seoul, KAIST, etc.) to achieve both quality job creation and future industry development,” adding, “Our goal is to connect the Hongneung area adjacent to Cheongnyangni region in the mid-to-long term, making Dongdaemun a core hub for the bio industry and transportation.”

The final piece for the 2050 Future City Dongdaemun is creating a safe environment. As a measure to establish a safe residential environment, plans are in place to expand the installation of security CCTV cameras in areas densely populated by vulnerable groups such as single-person households and university dormitory areas, as well as in locations with frequent incidents and accidents. The goal is to install at least 28 new locations annually, adding a total of 161 security CCTV cameras by 2026. Mayor Lee stated, “The 2050 Future City Dongdaemun has now completed its preparation phase and is on the right track,” and added, “If we diligently and carefully handle even small tasks for the transportation and commercial hub of Seoul’s northeastern region and a safe and pleasant Dongdaemun, these small efforts will collectively achieve our ultimate goals.”