"Glass in front of Myeongji Jeonmun University at Seobuseon Line 102 Station"

"Regarding the Economic Feasibility of West Line Station No. 102, Myeongji College Front is Advantageous"

Transportation Experts Reveal at Residents' Public Hearing on Seoul Light Rail West Line Station No. 102

District Mayor Lee Seong-heon: "No Basis for Claims that Station Relocation Delays Construction"

The residents' public hearing regarding Seoul Light Rail West Line Station No. 102 was held on the afternoon of the 16th at the Seodaemun Cultural and Sports Center Grand Theater.

The hearing was requested by the ‘Committee for Restoring the Original Location of West Line Station No. 102’ to Seodaemun-gu, and the moderator was Hong Tae-ui, a resident of Hong Eun 2-dong.

Park Jin-woo, a member of the Seodaemun District Council and the first presenter, emphasized, “Since the station location has not been finalized until the detailed design stage, Station No. 102 should be installed where demand is high.”

Dr. Kim Seung-hyun, CEO of Mirae Transportation ENC and an engineering PhD, stated, “According to the Seoul Open Data Plaza, the annual number of bus boardings and alightings around Myeongji College last year was 1.72 million, which is 1.17 million more than the 550,000 near Eungam Elementary School.”

He added, “The public transportation mobility (a figure analyzing the distance that can be traveled within the same time) is predicted to increase by 4.25% if a station is installed in front of Myeongji College, which is more effective than the 2.78% increase near Eungam Elementary School.”

Following this, former Seoul National University Construction and Environment Research Institute professor Lee Seong-mo chaired the discussion.

Professor Jeong Seong-bong of the Department of Railway Management Policy at Seoul National University of Science and Technology, who participated as a discussant, pointed out, “There were procedural issues such as the lack of consultation with related organizations including Seodaemun-gu when the location of Station No. 102 was changed from the original plan,” and said, “From an economic feasibility perspective, the Myeongji College side is more advantageous than near Eungam Elementary School.”

Seoul City Council member Lee Seung-bok also emphasized, “Light rail stations should naturally be built where many citizens can use them.” He also expressed regret regarding Seoul City’s administrative handling and administrative convenience concerning West Line Station No. 102.

Seodaemun District Mayor Lee Seong-heon stressed, “West Light Rail Station No. 102 should be restored to ‘in front of Myeongji College’ as confirmed and officially announced in the ‘West Line Facility Project Basic Plan’ after completing all related administrative procedures.” He also said, “Since Seoul City and the private investor are still negotiating and it is before the detailed design stage, there is no basis for claims that the station relocation delays construction.”

At the hearing, many residents attended to the extent that the 600-seat venue was insufficient, showing high interest in the relocation of West Line Station No. 102.