[Interview] Choi Ho-kwon, Yeongdeungpo District Mayor: "2025 Marks the Beginning of Yeongdeungpo's Great Transformation Era"

Demolition of Yeongdeungpo Rotary Overpass Accelerates
Temporary Road to Be Installed After Demolition; Phase 2 Construction Begins
Railway Undergrounding... Southwestern Region Along Gyeongbu Line to Become Seoul's New Growth Axis Centered on Yeongdeungpo
Redevelopment of Yeongdeungpo Station Shantytown and Revitalization of Semi-Industrial Areas Gain Momentum

"This year marks the year when Yeongdeungpo, which led the Miracle on the Han River during the past industrialization era, will once again establish itself as a growth hub driving Seoul's development."

Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo District, expressed this determination in an interview, stating that key projects opening the era of Yeongdeungpo's great transformation are being actively promoted, rapidly emerging as Seoul's new representative city.

First, the demolition of the Yeongdeungpo Rotary overpass is gaining momentum. The demolition, originally scheduled for April this year, has been moved up and is expected to be completed as early as the end of next month. After demolition, a temporary road will be installed in its place to minimize inconvenience to vehicle traffic. Subsequently, until June 2026, construction will continue to simplify the grade-separated intersection into a flat intersection and to install an inflow pipeline for the Yeongdeungpo rainwater pumping station.

Once the construction is completed, first, the road will be simplified, drastically reducing traffic accidents. Second, the nearly 50-year-old dilapidated and dangerous overpass will be demolished, improving the surrounding landscape. Third, a central bus lane will be connected from Yeongdeungpo Station to Yeouido, shortening commuting times for office workers. Fourth, the 'Yeongdeungpo Greenway' will be installed, allowing residents to enjoy nature and walk to Yeouido Saetgang Ecological Park. Lastly, a new Yeongdeungpo rainwater pumping station will be established to fundamentally resolve flooding damage around Yeongdeungpo Station.

The undergrounding of the Gyeongbu Line railway, a symbol of Yeongdeungpo's great transformation, is also about to be announced as a leading project by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. When the Gyeongbu Line railway is undergrounded, Yeongdeungpo, which has been divided into two for 120 years, will be reborn as one unified Yeongdeungpo. The upper space of the approximately 453,123㎡ site, equivalent to 63 soccer fields, and the surrounding area will attract advanced jobs related to the 4th Industrial Revolution and develop a compact city where green spaces, housing, and leisure can be enjoyed all at once.

On the 2nd, as part of the New Year's ceremony, the district office visited the site of the 'Yeongdeungpo Rotary overpass demolition and Gyeongbu Line railway undergrounding' with department heads and bureau chiefs. This was to emphasize the importance of these key projects for Yeongdeungpo's great transformation and to reaffirm the commitment to their successful promotion. Mayor Choi Ho-kwon said, "When the era of railway undergrounding opens, the southwestern region centered on Yeongdeungpo along the Gyeongbu Line will become Seoul's new growth axis," adding, "We must actively gather opinions from residents and experts and benchmark successful overseas cases to make Yeongdeungpo a new growth hub leading the 4th Industrial Revolution era."

The long-stalled redevelopment project of the Yeongdeungpo Station shantytown is also accelerating. Since November last year, SH Corporation has begun consultation and compensation, and temporary relocation facilities for shantytown residents during the construction period are in the final stages. A large-scale residential-commercial complex with 782 households targeting shantytown residents, newlyweds, and young people will be developed here.

Additionally, redevelopment and reconstruction projects are gaining momentum due to the relaxation of regulations in semi-industrial areas. In March last year, according to the revised Seoul City Urban Planning Ordinance, the floor area ratio for apartment buildings (APT) in semi-industrial areas was increased from 250% to 400%. This has made it possible to build high-rise apartments in semi-industrial areas, which account for 20% of the total area of Yeongdeungpo District.

To support residents facing difficulties due to the complex procedures of redevelopment and reconstruction, two 'Yeongdeungpo Redevelopment and Reconstruction Counseling Centers' are in operation. Experts reside at the counseling centers to provide guidance on reconstruction procedures and legal advice, and mobile counseling services are also offered upon residents' requests. Mayor Choi Ho-kwon expressed his ambition, saying, "Together with 380,000 residents and 1,400 staff members, we will unite our efforts to make Yeongdeungpo Seoul's new representative city."