A 30-Year Community Wish Fulfilled
Accelerating Efforts for Pedestrian Rights and Cleaner Streets
On September 9, Gwangjin District in Seoul (District Mayor Kim Kyungho) announced that it had cleared 46 out of 75 illegal street vendor stalls along the section from Konkuk University Station to Children's Grand Park Station as of September 8. This marks a significant step toward resolving a longstanding civic complaint that has troubled residents for over 30 years.
Konkuk University Station is a major transportation and commercial hub in eastern Seoul, with more than 100,000 people passing through daily. However, the presence of over 70 illegal street vendor stalls had led to disorder, occupying pedestrian spaces and causing persistent inconvenience and safety concerns for citizens. The pedestrian walkway was only two meters wide, while temporary structures, tents, and signboards damaged the urban landscape. In addition, noise, foul odors, and even fire hazards were constant issues.
In particular, there were as many as 53 fortune-telling and tarot reading stalls, making it difficult to view these as simple livelihood-based street vendors. Illegal activities such as resale, subleasing, and third-party proxy operations were also widespread, leading to ongoing calls for regulation.
To address these long-standing concerns, Gwangjin District has taken a phased approach. Last year, the district issued orders to restore the roads to their original state. In June this year, a joint public-private campaign was conducted with residents and police. In July, administrative measures were strengthened, including the posting of notices and imposing fines, to encourage voluntary compliance.
As a result of these actions, the surrounding area has become wider and more pleasant, and residents have expressed high levels of satisfaction. The district plans to continue regular management and inspections, starting with this recent initiative.
Kim Kyungho, Mayor of Gwangjin District, stated, "We will continue to manage the area to ensure that citizens are not inconvenienced by illegal street vendors. Clean and safe streets are a basic right that citizens deserve. We will do our utmost to secure pedestrian rights and create walkable streets going forward."
Meanwhile, since the launch of the 8th popularly elected administration, Gwangjin District has improved the pedestrian environment by clearing 172 out of 278 street vendor stalls (62%) around major subway stations such as Gangbyeon Station, Guui Station, and Konkuk University Station.
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