Gangdong-gu Mayor Lee Su-hee Vows to Defend the Name 'Godeok Bridge' to the End

'Gangdong Godeok Nadeulmok (IC)' Selected as Final Name
'Gangdong Godeok Nadeulmok (IC)' Name Confirmed at Korea Expressway Corporation Facility Naming Committee on 22nd
Godeok Bridge Name Finalization Also in Final Stage... To Be Decided by National Geographic Names Committee Before Completion in December This Year

Meeting between Lee Soo-hee, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, and the President of Korea Expressway Corporation

Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Soo-hee) announced on the 22nd that the name of the newly constructed Han River bridge connecting Godeok-dong and Guri City has been confirmed as ‘Gangdong Godeok Interchange (IC)’ at the facility naming committee hosted by Korea Expressway Corporation.

Along with this, the name ‘Godeok Bridge,’ which the district has continuously requested as the name of the bridge, is also scheduled to be submitted to the National Geographic Names Committee.

Earlier, in February, the name of the tunnel connecting Godeok-dong and Choi-dong, Hanam City, was also decided as ‘Godeok Tunnel,’ marking a step closer to branding Godeok in Gangdong-gu.

Since the early stages of construction, Gangdong-gu has focused all administrative efforts on securing the name ‘Godeok’ and has actively worked on the ground. Following the confirmed names ‘Gangdong Godeok Interchange (IC)’ and ‘Godeok Tunnel,’ the district plans to continuously respond to ensure that the tentative name ‘Godeok Bridge’ is finalized at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s National Geographic Names Committee meeting scheduled before the bridge’s completion in December this year.

The tentative ‘Godeok Bridge’ is a Han River crossing bridge with a total length of 1,725 meters, connecting Gangdong-gu and Guri City in the Sejong-Pocheon Expressway Anseong-Guri construction project (Section 14).

Gangdong-gu has actively expressed to related organizations such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Korea Expressway Corporation, and Seoul City that the naming of ‘Godeok Bridge’ is appropriate for the following reasons: the name ‘Godeok Bridge’ has been used since the early stages of construction; there is a ‘Guri Amsa Bridge’ within 2 km, so calling it ‘Guri Bridge’ could confuse users; ‘Godeok’ is a place name with historical significance dating back to the early Joseon Dynasty; Godeok-dong is the starting point of the bridge design; the construction site passes through urban areas, causing residents significant inconvenience during the construction period while actively cooperating with national policies; and Godeok-dong is rapidly emerging as a central area in the eastern metropolitan region with the establishment of Godeok Biz Valley.

Since November 2022, Gangdong-gu has actively conducted resident signature campaigns and campaigns to establish the name ‘Godeok Bridge,’ demonstrating the will and aspirations of the residents. Mayor Lee Soo-hee personally encouraged residents to sign and visited the construction site of the tentative Godeok Bridge in January 2023, urging Korea Expressway Corporation project leaders and construction officials to finalize the name.

In particular, in March 2023, Mayor Lee Soo-hee visited Korea Expressway Corporation in Gimcheon, Gyeongbuk, to proactively request cooperation to ensure the name ‘Godeok Bridge’ is adopted. On April 30, a district official also visited the Korea Expressway Corporation headquarters, met directly with the head of the construction department, explained the justification for naming the bridge ‘Godeok Bridge,’ and expressed Gangdong-gu’s final position.

Mayor Lee Soo-hee of Gangdong-gu said, “The large-scale business complex ‘Godeok Biz Valley’ located in Godeok-dong is expected to have most companies move in by the end of this year. It will become a key driving force leading Gangdong-gu as the economic center of the eastern metropolitan area, establishing the regional image of ‘Godeok.’ Above all, since ‘Gangdong Godeok Interchange (IC)’ and ‘Godeok Tunnel’ have been selected as the final names, we will do our best until the end to ensure that ‘Godeok Bridge,’ a name easily recalled by all citizens passing through here, is finalized as the official name.”