Seocho-gu, "Resident Request" New Crosswalk Installed at Banpo-dong Intersection in Front of Goteo

Despite Continuous Opposition from Underground Shopping Mall Merchants, Agreement Reached
New Crosswalk Established in Front of Hyoryeong-ro Jiwell Apartment

Seocho-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jeon Seong-su) announced on the 10th that it has newly installed the ‘Banpo-dong Intersection Crosswalk’ and the ‘Crosswalk in front of Jiwel Apartment on Hyoryeong-ro,’ which had long been a wish of local residents.

Crosswalk at Banpo-dong Intersection. Provided by Seocho-gu.

The ‘Banpo-dong Intersection Crosswalk,’ opened on the 9th, was a location where installation had been difficult for 15 years due to opposition from underground shopping mall merchants. With the crosswalk, pedestrians can cross the intersection without going underground, which could have caused significant damage to their businesses.

In response, the district office spent the past year promoting coexistence between the shopping mall and local residents by developing the underground shopping mall map ‘Goter Map,’ opening a public pedestrian passage connecting the Express Bus Terminal and Banpo Hangang Park, and designating the Goter and Sebit areas as tourist special zones. Through active cooperation and opinion sharing with Goto Mall merchants, they ultimately reached an agreement to install the crosswalk.

Along with the crosswalk, the district installed the nation’s first ‘Seocho-type AI Crosswalk’ on the traffic island to protect pedestrian safety. At Banpo-dong Intersection, where there are many large buses at the Express Bus Terminal and right-turning vehicles, the AI crosswalk alerts pedestrians in advance to the approach of large vehicles such as dump trucks and buses, helping to prevent accidents.

With the addition of the new south and east direction crosswalks to the existing north and west directions, the intersection will become a complete ‘□’-shaped crosswalk, making it convenient for residents visiting the Express Bus Terminal and Hangang Park.

Seocho-gu is also working to designate the area from the Express Bus Terminal to Banpo Hangang Park as the ‘Goter-Sebit Tourist Special Zone,’ having created the ‘Picasso Mural’ on the public pedestrian passage and opened the Goter-Sebit Tourist Information Center in July. The installation of the crosswalks is expected to improve accessibility and the pedestrian environment, further boosting the designation of the ‘Goter-Sebit Tourist Special Zone.’

On the same day, a crosswalk was newly installed in front of Jiwel Apartment on Hyoryeong-ro near the Nambu Terminal. This location had frequent jaywalking due to the distance from nearby crosswalks, posing many safety risks, and there were many requests for a crosswalk installation. After close cooperation with Seoul City and the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, the crosswalk was finally installed.

Meanwhile, Seocho-gu opened the crosswalk at Gugak High School Intersection, a long-awaited project for residents of Yangjae and Poi-dong, on the 8th of last month.

The district office stated, “The three crosswalks, which had long been a wish of local residents, are all on major roads with six or more lanes in both directions, with heavy vehicle traffic. Installation was difficult due to opposition from nearby merchants, pedestrian overpasses, and spacing with adjacent intersections. However, through dozens of consultations and communication with local residents and related agencies, and close cooperation with Seoul City, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and related organizations, we were able to lead the creation of these crosswalks.” They also explained that Seoul City Council Chairperson Choi Ho-jung, City Councilor Lee Suk-ja, and other city and district council members took the lead in actively listening to residents’ opinions and securing the necessary budget for crosswalk installation, enabling completion within the year.

Mayor Jeon Seong-su said, “I sincerely thank the Goto Mall merchants who cooperated in the installation of the ‘Banpo-dong Intersection Crosswalk’ to find a path of coexistence for revitalizing the underground shopping mall and improving convenience for local residents.” He added, “We will continue to carefully examine residents’ inconveniences and maintain ongoing communication with the local community to ensure crosswalks are installed where needed.”