Controversy Over 5m Moving Walkway Tax Waste... Gangseo District Office Explains "It's Unfair"

Gangseo District Office: "Decision Made by Seoul City Architecture Committee... Construction by Private Operator"
"Improvement Measures to Be Developed After Gathering Opinions from Agencies, Stakeholders, and Residents"

As controversy grows over a moving walkway approximately 5 meters long installed in the underground public pedestrian passage connecting Magok Station and Magongnaru Station in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, the Gangseo District Office-the local government responsible for the area-has expressed frustration. The district office stated that it is not responsible for the decision and that the moving walkway was constructed by a private business operator.

The controversial approximately 5-meter-long moving walkway. Seoul Guide Instagram

On December 21, the Gangseo District Office released an explanatory statement regarding the moving walkway controversy, saying, "We prioritized improving residents' mobility and requested the Seoul City Architecture Committee to install as many moving walkways as possible." The office added, "However, the Seoul City Architecture Committee decided to install the moving walkway only in the public road section, reflecting the opinions presented by the business operator concerning the revitalization of the underground shopping mall and the need to maintain fire prevention functions."

The district office also addressed the 'waste of tax money' claims, stating, "The moving walkway in question was constructed by a private business operator, and no Gangseo-gu tax funds were used." The office explained, "The final authority to decide the installation section of the moving walkway rests with the Seoul City Architecture Committee, and Gangseo District Office had no choice but to follow the committee's decision."

The district office further commented, "The Gangseo District Mayor regrets that controversy has arisen regarding the moving walkway," and added, "We will consult with relevant agencies and stakeholders and gather a wide range of citizen opinions before reviewing reasonable improvement measures."

Recently, a video titled "This is the shortest moving walkway I have ever seen" was posted on a social networking service (SNS) account. According to the poster, the installation of a moving walkway was a condition for project approval by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, and due to the lack of a clear standard for length, a moving walkway of about 5 meters was installed to fulfill this requirement.

This has led to continued criticism among online users, who questioned the validity of the budget expenditure. Comments included, "I can't understand it every time I see it," "The administrative process was sloppy," and "This is the result of hasty administration." Some citizens who frequently pass by the area also expressed dissatisfaction, saying, "I've hardly ever seen it in operation," and "I don't understand why it was installed if it's not even running."

In response to a civil complaint, the Gangseo District Office stated, "We are considering various alternatives, such as installing replacement facilities or sculptures after removing the moving walkway, in consultation with relevant departments and stakeholders." The office added, "We are working on measures to ensure the underground passageway is comfortable and convenient."