“Blocked Roads, Now Open” Promised, But Gwangju Metro Line 2 Restoration Delayed

Only 17% of 39 Phase 1 Sections Paved
City Fails to Keep Most Promises Made Last Year
Citizens Say, "Seven Years of Construction... Suffering During Commutes"

The first phase construction of Gwangju Metro Line 2 has entered its seventh year, with the road restoration schedule proposed by the city repeatedly falling behind, resulting in prolonged inconvenience for citizens. Except for a few sections, road paving has been delayed, and complaints about traffic disruptions continue to mount.

According to the Gwangju Urban Railway Construction Headquarters on April 20, only 7 out of 39 detailed sections (17.95% by section count) across 6 construction zones of the first phase of Metro Line 2 had completed road paving as of this date.

On the morning of December 23 last year, Gwangju Mayor Kang Kijeong, Gwangju Councilors Hong Giwol and Park Mijeong, Dong District Mayor Lim Taek, and residents of Sansu-dong and Jisan-dong were removing PE protective walls, lava cones, and other facilities along the 660-meter section between bus stops 216 and 217 (around Gwangju Nonghyup Sansu Branch to Sansu Police Substation) near Sansu Five-way Intersection in Sansu-dong, Dong District. Photo by Min Chanki

The completed sections are as follows: Zone 1 (4 sections) ▲ Around Yuchon-dong to Yudeok 2 Intersection ▲ Yudeok 2 Intersection to Yudeok 1 Intersection ▲ Bank of Korea Intersection to SC First Bank Intersection ▲ SC First Bank Intersection to BYC Building Intersection; Zone 5 (2 sections) ▲ Salesio Girls’ High School Intersection to Donggaechon-ro Intersection ▲ Donggaechon-ro Intersection to Jisan Intersection; Zone 6 (1 section) ▲ Near Gwangju Nonghyup Sansu Branch to Sansu Five-way Intersection.

In 17 sections (43.59%), only partial road restoration has been completed, with paving expected to be finished soon. However, due to ongoing foundational work in many areas, 15 sections (38.46%) are still classified as “incomplete road restoration” zones.

The incomplete sections include: ▲ Four sections from Sangmu District BYC Building Intersection to Sangmu Station Intersection to Uncheon Reservoir to Kumho District SK Enclean Gas Station ▲ Five sections from Wonkwang University Hospital Intersection to International Archery Field to Mudeung Market to Juwol Intersection to Baegun Intersection ▲ Two tunnel-type construction sections along Gwangjucheon and elevated roads, including Mudeungsan I-Park to Namgwangju Market to Namgwangju Overpass.

Most areas where paving has not been completed are among the most congested traffic zones in Gwangju. Prolonged road closures have caused daily rush hour hardships for citizens.

Gwangju Mayor Kang Kijeong visited the area near Sansu Five-way Intersection, where the first road restoration was completed during phase one construction of Line 2 in December last year, and announced a detailed restoration schedule for each section. The city even promoted the project under the slogan “Blocked Roads, Now Open,” but most of these promises have not been kept.

The city had pledged to complete paving by December last year in areas such as Filmun-daero Jisan Intersection, Geumhwa-ro World Cup Stadium, Daenam-daero Bongseon-dong Namgwangju Nonghyup, Sangmu Jungang-ro BYC Building area, and World Cup Seoro Gwangju FC Stadium area. However, almost none of these sections have been completed to date. Most of the sections scheduled to open between January and April have also seen construction delays, and the city cannot guarantee that the sections scheduled to open between May and October will be completed on time. Construction of the first phase of Gwangju Metro Line 2 began in August 2019.

Oh Younggeol, head of the Gwangju Urban Railway Construction Headquarters, stated, “It is true that road paving work is delayed, but since each construction zone faces different circumstances, it is difficult to give a definitive timeline for the delays.” He further explained, “In some sections, frequent complaints related to the construction have slowed progress.”

Oh also noted, “During construction, various factors such as the discovery of rocks at the site or continued complaints have caused delays in restoration. In some sections, we are conducting nighttime work and will do our best to meet the promised opening periods wherever possible.”