"Concerns Over Congestion and Pedestrian Safety in the 'Red Road' Section"
"Station Location Should Be Changed Toward Hongdae Entrance Station Intersection"
Mapo-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Park Kangsoo) has conducted an independent study to review the feasibility of the planned location for Station 111 (planned at Hongdae Entrance Station) on the Daejang~Hongdae Metropolitan Railway, citing concerns over its irrational site selection. Based on the results, Mapo-gu has officially requested that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and other relevant agencies change the station's location.
The Daejang~Hongdae Line is a metropolitan railway connecting Bucheon Daejang District to Mapo-gu’s Hongdae Entrance Station. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Station 111, which will serve as the terminal station, is planned to be built in the 'Red Road' section near Exit 8 of Hongdae Entrance Station.
However, this area is a major tourist destination visited by 52% of foreign tourists to Seoul, and it is crowded not only on weekdays but also on weekends and public holidays. In particular, street performances (busking) and various events are concentrated in this area, resulting in a high floating population. Mapo-gu has designated this section as a 'crowd-dense area' and manages it in real time by installing a congestion status board.
If the metropolitan railway station is built in this section, it is expected that pedestrian congestion will worsen due to the narrowing of sidewalks, the risk of safety accidents will increase, and nearby businesses will suffer significant losses during construction.
In fact, a large number of complaints and opinions have been received from local merchants, residents, and cultural artists active in the Hongdae area, opposing the current station location. Group petitions requesting a change in the station’s location have also continued. The results of the study also analyzed that the current location would have a significant negative impact on pedestrian safety, commercial activity, and transportation operations if the project proceeds as planned.
According to the study report, if the originally planned Station 111 is built in the Red Road area, serious pedestrian congestion will occur due to the constantly dense floating population. On special event days such as year-end, New Year's, or Halloween, the risk of pedestrian accidents will be particularly high. In addition, during construction, noise, vibration, and restricted access will inevitably harm nearby businesses, and there are concerns that the local commercial district could be weakened in the long term.
Furthermore, if station entrances and exits are installed in a space previously used as a plaza, the cultural tourism infrastructure established by the district could be seriously damaged, which could also lead to a deterioration of the city’s image. This was highlighted as a major issue.
As an alternative, the study suggested relocating the station toward the Hongdae Entrance Station intersection. The proposed location was evaluated as being better able to efficiently disperse pedestrian flows and having wider sidewalks and more available space compared to the original site. It was also analyzed that the potential for community conflict or damage during future construction would be relatively lower.
Based on the results of this review, Mapo-gu officially conveyed the necessity of relocating the station to the 'Hongdae Entrance Station Intersection' to relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Seoul Metropolitan Government, and the project operator Seobu Metropolitan Metro Co., Ltd., on the 4th and again on the 17th of this month.
Park Kangsoo, Mayor of Mapo-gu, stated, “The Daejang~Hongdae Line is an extremely important transportation infrastructure for residents of Mapo-gu and the northwestern region, but for that reason, the selection of the station location must be approached with caution, considering resident safety, the local commercial district, and the future of urban space. As this study has provided objective data and evidence to propose an alternative, I hope that the district’s position will be fully reflected in the subsequent implementation plan approval process.”
Park Gangsu, Mayor of Mapo District, attending the emergency countermeasure meeting opposing the installation of stations within the Daejang Hongdae Line Red Road section. Provided by Mapo District.
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