Yongsan-gu Submits Preliminary Feasibility Study on Railway Undergrounding to Seoul City
Gyeongbu Line (Seoul Station~Hangang Railroad Bridge) as Global Business Hub
Gyeongwon Line (Yongsan Station~Hannam Station) to Create Waterfront and Green Spaces
Basic Plan (Draft) for the Undergrounding of Gyeongbu Line and Gyeongwon Line Railways and Development of the Upper Site in Yongsan-gu. Provided by Yongsan-gu.
Yongsan-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Park Hee-young) announced on the 22nd that through the "Pre-feasibility Study for Railway Undergrounding" initiated last July, it has prepared a basic plan (draft) for the development of the upper land in case of undergrounding the Gyeongbu Line and Gyeongwon Line (Yongsan section) this month, and has completed a preliminary feasibility review accordingly.
This plan was promoted in accordance with the "Special Act on Railway Undergrounding and Integrated Development of Railway Sites" (Railway Undergrounding Special Act) enacted on January 30 this year, and the "Plan for Selection of Leading Projects for Integrated Railway Undergrounding Development" announced in May.
The leading project proposals are to be submitted at the metropolitan local government level. The selection criteria for leading projects include ▲necessity and feasibility of project promotion ▲rationality of railway undergrounding and railway site development plans ▲project feasibility ▲project effects ▲local government’s proactive promotion, among others.
This month, the district delivered the "Basic Plan (Draft) for Railway Undergrounding and Upper Land Development of the Gyeongbu Line and Gyeongwon Line in Yongsan-gu" to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The target sections of this "Basic Plan (Draft) for Railway Undergrounding and Upper Land Development in Yongsan-gu" are the Gyeongbu Line section (Seoul Station to Hangang Railroad Bridge, 4.5 km) and the Gyeongwon Line section (Yongsan Station to Hannam Station, 6.0 km).
Due to the above-ground railway sections within the district, there are several issues such as ▲disconnection between regions ▲noise and dust ▲deterioration around the railway. Since 2009, the district has continuously sought urban improvement and development plans through railway undergrounding to resolve these problems.
The goal of this "Basic Plan (Draft) for Railway Undergrounding and Upper Land Development in Yongsan-gu" is the "innovative recreation of urban space through railway undergrounding." The Gyeongbu Line is planned to be developed as the "Core Industrial Global Business Belt of Korea" by selecting Seoul Station and Yongsan Station as representative stations and linking them with the Yongsan International Business District.
The Gyeongwon Line plan envisions utilizing the station sites and track sites connected along the Han River while linking Yongsan Park and green corridors to create a "rest and leisure belt connected with waterfront and green spaces."
According to a district official, "The financial feasibility analysis results of the Gyeongbu Line and Gyeongwon Line showed that the economic value is sufficient," and "the costs required for the railway undergrounding project under Article 13, Paragraph 2 of the Railway Undergrounding Special Act can be covered by the revenue generated from the railway site development project."
District Mayor Park Hee-young said, "'The Basic Plan (Draft) for Railway Undergrounding and Upper Land Development in Yongsan-gu' is the result of a thorough investigation reflecting the wishes of our residents," and added, "We are closely consulting with related organizations and making every effort to ensure that the Gyeongbu Line and Gyeongwon Line sections are selected as leading projects for integrated railway undergrounding development."
Mayor Park added, "I hope that the selection of the Gyeongbu Line and Gyeongwon Line routes as leading project routes will resolve regional disconnection within Yongsan-gu and that the development of the upper land will enable Yongsan-gu to leap forward as a new growth hub in Seoul."
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