Park Gangsu Begins Solo Protest,
Urging Relocation of Daejang~Hongdae Line Station
Concerns Rise Over Pedestrian Safety, Local Businesses, and Tourism at Red Road
On August 17 at 5:00 p.m., Park Gangsu, mayor of Mapo District, became the first participant in a relay of solo protests, urging a change in the planned location of the Daejang~Hongdae metropolitan railway station at the 'Red Road' section near Hongdaeipgu Station.
Park Gangsu, mayor of Mapo District Office, holding a solo picket protest near Hongdaeipgu Station, the area with the highest pedestrian traffic. Provided by Mapo District Office.
Mayor Park stood for one hour in the R1 section of Red Road (from Busking Square to Exit 8 of Hongdaeipgu Station), holding a picket and directly appealing to citizens to demand a change in the station's location.
This protest was organized to represent residents' concerns about the location of the Daejang~Hongdae Line station and to call on the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and related agencies for prompt discussions and a reconsideration of the plans. In the coming days, residents, merchants, and cultural artists-including Baek Namhwan, chair of the Mapo District Council-are expected to join the relay protest.
The Daejang~Hongdae Line is a metropolitan railway route connecting Bucheon Daejang District and Hongdaeipgu Station in Mapo District. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s plan, a station will be built in part of Red Road near Exit 8 of Hongdaeipgu Station, an area known as a hub for K-busking and cultural activities. However, this is a major tourist destination visited by more than half (52%) of foreign tourists to Seoul and is crowded with people on both weekdays and weekends.
A study commissioned by Mapo District found that if the station is built at its current planned location, there will be serious negative consequences, including worsening pedestrian congestion, increased risk of safety accidents, decline in local businesses, and damage to cultural tourism infrastructure. In response, Mapo District officially requested in July that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Seoul Metropolitan Government, and Seobu Metropolitan Metro change the station location to the direction of the Hongdaeipgu Station intersection.
Mayor Park Gangsu stated, "The wrong choice of location for the Daejang~Hongdae Line station could have a fatal impact on pedestrian safety and the local business district," and emphasized, "To protect the lives and safety of residents and to promote regional development, the location must be changed."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
