Gangdong District Focuses All Efforts on Securing Project Budget for Gildong Station Escalator Installation

All Pre-Construction Administrative Procedures Completed
Securing Project Budget Through Coordination With Relevant Agencies Is Key

On September 4, Gangdong District in Seoul (District Mayor Lee Soohee) announced that it has completed all pre-construction administrative procedures, including land acquisition and compensation, for the installation of an escalator at Exit 2 of Gildong Station on Subway Line 5-a long-awaited project for local residents. The district is now focusing all efforts on securing the necessary project budget to begin full-scale construction.

Site photo of Exit 2 at Gildong Station. Provided by Gangdong District.

Gildong Station, used by more than 20,000 people daily, serves as a key local hub with a traditional market, schools, hospitals, and a tax office nearby. However, there is currently no escalator connecting the underground concourse to the ground-level exit, which has consistently caused inconvenience for people with disabilities, the elderly, pregnant women, and other transportation-vulnerable groups.

Gangdong District has continuously appealed to relevant organizations, including the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Metro, for the expansion of accessibility facilities. As a result, the project gained momentum after passing the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Investment Review Committee in October 2023. Since then, the district has completed changes to urban planning facilities, underground safety evaluations, and implementation plan approvals, culminating in the completion of land acquisition and compensation procedures last month, thus finalizing all administrative steps.

The remaining challenge is securing the project budget. As of 2023, the total project cost is estimated at approximately 9.8 billion won, with 6.5 billion won currently secured. However, construction for the escalator installation can only begin once the entire budget is secured. To commence construction as planned next year, the remaining budget must be included in Seoul’s budget for the following year.

Additionally, due to recent increases in construction costs, additional budget increases are inevitable. Gangdong District plans to work closely with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Seoul Metropolitan Council, and other relevant bodies to secure the necessary funds.

Lee Soohee, Mayor of Gangdong District, stated, “With the hope that residents can use Gildong Station more conveniently as soon as possible, we have proactively expedited all administrative procedures within the district’s authority. Together with local city council members, we will continue to actively coordinate with Seoul and other relevant organizations to secure the remaining project budget, the final step before construction can begin.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.