Interview with Lee Suhee, Mayor of Gangdong-gu
Goes Anywhere Explanation and Persuasion Are Needed
"High Development Potential, Population to Exceed 500,000 After Next Year"
Gangdong-gu Mayor Lee Su-hee emphasized in an interview on the 24th, "Transportation in Gangdong-gu is welfare directly connected to the quality of life of residents due to its location." The mayor was wearing a 3,000 won jacket purchased at a bazaar that morning as her "office work uniform." Provided by Gangdong-gu.
Lee Soo-hee, the mayor of Gangdong District Office in Seoul, has emphasized one issue since the beginning of her term in 2022, and that is the ‘transportation’ problem. Gangdong-gu, located in the eastern part of Seoul, borders the Han River to the northwest and has a high green space ratio, making it a pleasant area. The school districts and academy areas in Godeok-dong are popular among parents with school-age children.
However, the explosive increase in commuting population and transportation demand due to the development of new towns in neighboring Gyeonggi-do areas such as Hanam, Guri, and Namyangju has been a challenge. Since the extension of Line 5 to Hanam Geomdansan Station in 2021, subway congestion has increased, and the same problem arose when the Byeollae Line, an extension of Line 8, was extended to Guri and Namyangju last August.
Following the 4th phase of Subway Line 9, there is also a plan for the 5th phase project to connect Hanam to the Wangsuk New Town in Namyangju in the future, concentrating transportation demand in the eastern metropolitan area on Gangdong-gu.
On the afternoon of the 24th, Mayor Lee Soo-hee was taking a brief rest in her office after completing five schedules in the morning. The bright pink jacket caught the reporter’s eye. Mayor Lee said she bought it for 3,000 won at a bazaar held that day at the Seong Family Senior Welfare Center to raise funds for food support for vulnerable elderly citizens.
Now in her third year in office, Mayor Lee has shown focused dedication to transportation issues, as vivid as the color of her jacket.
◆Deputy Prime Minister, Ministers, Mayor, Superintendent of Education… Visiting and Meeting Wherever There Are Issues
Mayor Lee has consistently concentrated on this issue to the extent that the nickname ‘Transportation Mayor’ suits her. She said, “The answer to Gangdong-gu’s development must be found in transportation,” and emphasized, “Due to Gangdong-gu’s location, transportation is welfare directly connected to residents’ quality of life.”
Whenever explanation or persuasion was needed, she visited the Deputy Minister of Education and the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. She visited Won Hee-ryong, then Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, five times. She also went to meet Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, then Seoul Superintendent of Education Cho Hee-yeon, SH Corporation President Kim Heon-dong, and National Geographic Information Institute Director Cho Woo-seok. During her 28 months as mayor, she made nearly twenty such visits.
Mayor Lee said, “I explained and persuaded with evidence and justification,” adding, “Fortunately, they met with me well and listened carefully to Gangdong-gu’s explanations.” If she already had a connection, she relied on familiarity; if not, she sought help from her network. She demonstrated the boldness of a politician and the flexibility of a lawyer-turned-mayor.
The biggest achievement in transportation during the 8th local government term, according to Mayor Lee, is the confirmation that the Metropolitan Area Express Train (GTX)-D line will pass through Gangdong. She said, “We will work closely with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and related agencies to ensure it is included in the Ministry’s 5th National Railroad Network Construction Plan, scheduled to be announced in the first half of next year.”
The direct connection project for Line 5 remains an unfinished task. The opening of the Hanam Line extension of Line 5 has significantly increased congestion in the area. However, since Line 5 splits at Cheonho Station and Gangdong Station to operate toward Hanam Geomdansan and Macheon directions, congestion continues to rise. Mayor Lee mentioned, “Experts predict that connecting Gubeundari Station and Dunchon-dong Station directly would have the effect of creating a new single line.”
Lee Soo-hee, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, is explaining the development potential and possibilities of Gangdong-gu. Provided by Gangdong-gu.
As of September this year, Gangdong-gu’s population is 465,000, and it will exceed 500,000 next year. Large-scale redevelopment and reconstruction projects such as the Olympic Park Foreon move-in, and the creation of business complexes like Godeok Biz Valley, are greatly increasing both residents and jobs. The population of the 30s and 40s age group ranks fifth among the 25 autonomous districts in Seoul. This population structure, along with the expansion of the surrounding new towns, is also why Mayor Lee has been so focused on transportation issues.
In terms of road traffic, Gangdong-gu is a transportation hub with five major metropolitan (express) roads, including Olympic-daero, the Seoul Metropolitan Area 1st Ring Expressway, and the Sejong-Pocheon Expressway scheduled to open at the end of the year. The plan is to build a dense transportation network by establishing and adjusting bus routes linked with the subway to ensure seamless access within Seoul as well.
Mayor Lee said, “Gangdong-gu is one of the few districts in Seoul where the population is increasing, with very high potential and growth prospects,” adding, “I will go out to the field, listen to the voices of residents, and continue to show visible results of Gangdong-gu’s development potential to the citizens.”
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