[The Future of Yongsan] Vehicles Moving Underground... UAM Above the Sky

③ Establish 'Metropolitan Traffic Improvement Measures' According to Development
Seoul City Reviews Construction of Underground Road After Demolition of Baekbeom-ro Overpass
Promote Public Transportation Traffic Sharing
Utilize Future Transportation Means Such as Flying UAM

Editor's NoteYongsan, once home to the "forbidden land," is entering a new turning point. The Yongsan US military base, which had been off-limits to the general public for over a century, has been transformed into Yongsan Park, a space for all citizens. With the presidential office relocation, Yongsan has established itself as the new center of power in the Republic of Korea, and development plans have also begun in earnest. There are ongoing demands to expand its role as a hub of history and culture. Despite being a prime piece of land along the Han River connecting Namsan and the Han River in the heart of Seoul, Yongsan still harbors underdeveloped residential areas. Experts emphasize that to enhance Seoul's global competitiveness as a city where power, business, history, and culture coexist, attention must be paid to Yongsan. In this sense, Yongsan represents both the present and future of Korean cities.

Yongsan is widely recognized as a geographical and transportation hub located right in the center of Seoul. Nevertheless, the area has been fragmented and its transportation axis distorted due to the US military base and the long railway tracks on the surface. Many roads are narrow relative to the volume of vehicle traffic, leading to persistent traffic congestion.

Seoul City and Yongsan District Office have rolled up their sleeves to tackle transportation issues in this era of "Yongsan Great Transformation." Seoul City has begun establishing a comprehensive transportation improvement plan in preparation for increased traffic volume throughout Yongsan District due to the development of the Yongsan International Business District, which officially starts this year. For large-scale development projects covering over 500,000 square meters or involving more than 10,000 residents, a comprehensive transportation improvement plan must be prepared.

A decade ago, when the International Business District development was being promoted, a comprehensive transportation improvement plan was also established. At that time, a plan worth 3.64 trillion KRW was confirmed. However, after the 2013 cancellation of the International Business District development project, this plan, which included the construction of a street tram connecting Yeouido and Yongsan, faded away. With the current district development, the nearby transportation system is expected to undergo a revolutionary transformation after about ten years.

Current Status Map of Yongsan-gu Development Projects./Source: Yongsan-gu Office

Vehicles Move 'Underground'... Activation of Public Transportation

Currently, the city is considering mostly using the "underground" to alleviate traffic congestion. In the future, Seoul citizens will likely be able to pass through Baekbeom-ro more conveniently via wider underground roads rather than the congested two-lane surface roads. One preliminary plan involves demolishing the overpass connecting the old Yongsan District Office and Samgakji Station and constructing an underground road to share traffic demand. The comprehensive transportation improvement plan may also include the construction of a new connecting underground road running east-west through the International Business District and improvements to the Wonhyo Bridge northern intersection.

In the newly developed Yongsan International Business District, vehicles will not be seen on the surface at all. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said at a briefing on the International Business District development plan last February, "Since traffic will go underground beneath green spaces, no cars will be visible within the district," adding, "It will probably resemble the structure of 'La D?fense' in Paris, France." La D?fense, a sub-center located on the outskirts of Paris, France, consolidates subways, highways, and general roads underground so that all vehicles travel only underground.

Earlier, Mayor Oh also mentioned La D?fense in 2021 before the by-elections, pledging to create a transportation hub called "Linking Park" beneath Yongsan Park where major arterial roads converge. A city official said, "We are still reviewing internally," and added, "We plan to establish a basic road network plan by the second half of this year, and Linking Park will be comprehensively reviewed as part of this."

Plans have also been made to have public transportation share Yongsan's traffic demand. This includes designating special traffic congestion management zones, implementing a parking reservation system, and restricting the use of attached parking lots. Additionally, a metropolitan transfer center will be newly established, and additional railway lines will be arranged to activate public transportation. The city aims to raise Yongsan's current public transportation modal share of 56.9% to 70% using these measures.

Flying from the Airport to Yongsan... 'Future Transportation' is Coming

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) demonstration event stock photo.

It won't be long before Seoul citizens travel to and from Yongsan by flying transportation means or autonomous vehicles. Around 2030, future transportation modes such as autonomous shuttles and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) are planned to be utilized, centered on the International Business District. Seoul City states that after UAM's safety is secured through demonstration projects, it will strive to include Yongsan in the routes when the government invites proposals from local governments. A city official explained, "We are working at the city level to include routes connecting Gimpo Airport, Yongsan, and Jamsil in the UAM network," adding, "To this end, Korail is conducting a separate research project to introduce advanced transportation modes."

In addition, Yongsan District Office has also launched its own research project to understand the current transportation status within the district and devise improvement measures amid successive major development news. Through about a year of research, a comprehensive transportation system improvement plan will be created to be reflected in the transportation plans of various development projects in the area. A Yongsan District official said, "A mid-term report on the research is expected around the end of April," adding, "We aim to find alternatives through the research, such as addressing east-west disconnection caused by railways and east-west connecting roads related to Yongsan Park."