Subway Line 5 Increased Operation by 4 Runs During Rush Hours

From April 3, the number of trains during rush hours will increase by 2 times in the morning and 2 times in the evening

Expected improvement in train congestion and user convenience on Seoul Subway Line 5 in Gangdong section

Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Suhee) announced that starting April 3, the number of train operations on Seoul Subway Line 5 during the morning and evening rush hours will increase by 2 times each, totaling 4 additional runs.

Seoul Subway Line 5 operates from Banghwa towards Hanam Geomdansan and Machon directions. With this increase, from April 3, there will be 2 additional trains during the morning rush hour (Sangil-dong → Banghwa), and 2 additional trains during the evening rush hour (Banghwa → Hanam Geomdansan 1 train, Banghwa → Machon 1 train), totaling 4 additional runs. During the morning rush hour, among the 4 shuttle trains from Sangil-dong to Gangdong, the departure point of 2 trains will be changed to Hanam Geomdansan.

Gangdong-gu has seen continuous growth in population and transportation demand due to large-scale reconstruction, housing development, and business complex formation. However, structural issues arise because Line 5 branches at Gangdong Station towards Hanam Geomdansan and Machon, resulting in long intervals between trains and increasing inconvenience for local residents.

In particular, due to the extension of Line 5 (Hanam Line) and the resulting change in terminal stations, the number of trains from Sangil-dong to Banghwa during the morning rush hour has steadily decreased (7 times in 2021 → 3 times in 2022). The additional transportation demand caused by the extension has sharply increased congestion, causing severe inconvenience for existing users in the Gangdong section.

The district has continuously requested related organizations, including Seoul City and Seoul Metro, to increase the number of trains, shorten intervals, and restore the reduced number of trains departing from Sangil-dong to alleviate residents’ inconveniences and improve Line 5 usage conditions.

Especially after the Itaewon tragedy, the district independently conducted a congestion survey on the Gangdong section of Line 5, reported the results to related organizations, and demanded measures to improve congestion.

Additionally, with the expected continuous increase in transportation demand in Gangdong due to the settlement of Godeok Gangil District and Godeok Biz Valley, the district plans to continue discussions and requests with related organizations to increase train frequency, shorten intervals, and adjust the dispatch ratio between Hanam Geomdansan and Machon directions to improve public transportation conditions for residents.

Lee Suhee, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, stated, “I hope this increase in Line 5 trains will somewhat alleviate the inconvenience of subway use for local residents during rush hours.” She added, “We will continue to actively cooperate with related organizations such as Seoul City and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to ensure smooth progress of subway and metropolitan railway projects, including attracting GTX-D, direct connection of Line 5, and prompt construction of Phase 4 of Line 9, to improve the public transportation environment in the district.”