[Interview] Lee Soo-hee, Gangdong District Mayor: "Transportation Holds the Key to Gangdong's Development... Will Emerge as the Central City of the Eastern Metropolitan Area"

GTX-D Line Route Confirmed... Full Efforts to Finalize Inclusion in 2025 '5th National Railroad Network Plan'... Developing Cultural Content to Attract People to Gangdong... Establishing Anchor Facilities

“On January 25th, the routing of the GTX-D line through Gangdong-gu was confirmed. I would like to thank the residents who united in one heart and one mind to wish for this, as well as the 1,600 employees who worked hard for it.”

Lee Su-hee, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, expressed these sentiments in a recent interview, stating, “I first give credit for attracting the GTX-D line to the 460,000 residents and employees.”

The district has been making efforts to expand the transportation network to respond to the rapidly increasing transportation demand caused by large-scale reconstruction, redevelopment, and the creation of business complexes. In particular, to prevent worsening congestion situations like those expected on the Gimpo Gold Line due to the extension of subway lines 5, 8, and 9 to surrounding new towns, the expansion of a metropolitan transportation network such as the GTX-D line was absolutely necessary.

The mayor emphasized, “It is important to disperse the increased transportation demand in advance,” adding, “Therefore, attracting the GTX-D line is the top priority for Gangdong-gu. From the Presidential Transition Committee of President Yoon Suk-yeol, which stressed the necessity of routing through Gangdong-gu, to multiple meetings with the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, we actively advocated for the GTX-D line to pass through Gangdong-gu.”

Furthermore, she stated, “We will prepare without any setbacks to ensure that the final routing of the GTX-D line through Gangdong-gu is reflected in the ‘5th National Railroad Network Construction Plan.’ We will also do our best to solve numerous remaining transportation issues in Gangdong-gu, such as the direct connection of Line 5, the 4th phase extension of Line 9, and the expansion of bus routes, so that Gangdong-gu can be reborn as a central city in the eastern metropolitan area.”

The mayor also shared her concerns. She said, “Subway lines including the GTX should not merely serve as gateways passing through Gangdong,” emphasizing, “We need cultural content or anchor facilities that can attract people.”

First, the ‘Gangdong Art Center’ is accelerating efforts to attract prestigious domestic and international performances and exhibitions to become an anchor facility that draws people as a specialized cultural and artistic performance venue. Since last year, the district has started attracting premium performances, beginning with high-quality shows worthy of their names, such as the concert by Igor Levit, a Beethoven specialist, which has begun to catch the attention of residents and art lovers. This year, a series of distinguished performances and exhibitions are planned, including the play ‘Waiting for Godot’ featuring actors Shin Goo, Park Geun-hyung, and Park Jung-ja, a recital by pianist Baek Gun-woo, a spiritual seeker on the keyboard, in June, and a visit performance by the piano queen Maria Jo?o Pires in September.

The mayor said, “In the future, we will ensure that residents can enjoy high-quality performances at the Gangdong Art Center without having to travel far to places like Sejong Center for the Performing Arts or the Seoul Arts Center.” It is expected that an increase in visitors coming to see performances and exhibitions will help enhance Gangdong’s popular image and revitalize the local economy.

Additionally, two key libraries are being established: the ‘Gangdong Forest Library’ (with a collection of 100,000 books) in Myeongil Neighborhood Park and the (tentatively named) ‘Gangdong Central Library’ (with a collection of 310,000 books) within the Dunchon Jugong reconstruction complex.

She conveyed that these will become representative hubs for reading, culture, and arts in Gangdong. Finally, Lee Su-hee, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, expressed her ambition, saying, “In 2024, my 1,600 employees and I will do our best so that residents can feel vigorous changes and take pride simply in living in Gangdong.”