Jongno-gu to Promote Traffic System Reorganization in Changsindong, Known for Frequent Traffic Accidents

Application for 'Traffic System Improvement Project for Accident-Prone Areas' to Be Submitted to Seoul City

Jongno-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Jeong Munheon) is undertaking a major overhaul of the traffic system at the entrance intersection of Changsin-dong Community Center, where safety concerns such as illegal left turns and jaywalking were significant.

The intersection in front of Doosan Apartment, the project site. Provided by Jongno-gu.

As a result, the long-awaited project by residents over the past eight years, including the installation of a new left-turn signal in front of Jongno Community Center, will be realized, greatly reducing accident risks and enabling smoother vehicle flow.

The target area around Jibong-ro is a road adjacent to the downtown area with heavy through traffic, making congestion a serious issue. Due to severe congestion at the Dongmyo Station intersection, illegal left turns frequently occur in front of Doosan Apartments, and many pedestrians jaywalk after getting off at the bus stop near Lotte Castle Cheonjijin, increasing the risk of accidents. Over the past 10 years, there have been a total of 11 traffic accidents on this road, including one fatality.

Accordingly, Jongno-gu will add left-turn signals in three directions at the Community Center entrance intersection as part of this traffic system overhaul. The project will also include lane expansion, relocation of crosswalks, installation of bus bays, sidewalk setbacks and infills for road alignment, and new road markings.

Jongno-gu’s efforts to resolve this long-standing resident demand date back to 2017. At that time, the first petition was received, and joint inspections were conducted with Seoul City and the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. Multiple meetings were held to gather residents’ opinions, but the project faced difficulties due to opposition from some stakeholders.

However, to realize residents’ long-held wishes and prevent accident recurrence, Jongno-gu re-negotiated with the Seoul City Traffic Operations Division in January and decided to strongly push forward with the traffic system overhaul once again. A briefing session was held at Jongno Community Center on the 25th of last month, and the resident petition and the application for the “Traffic System Improvement Project for Accident-Prone Areas” will be submitted to the city within this month.

District Mayor Jeong Munheon expressed strong determination, stating, “As this project is essential for the safety of all residents, we will cooperate with Seoul City and related agencies to swiftly implement the traffic system overhaul.”