Interview with Gangdong District Mayor Lee Suhee
Gyeonggi Province, Namyangju, and Guri refuse to cooperate on adding train cars
"We can no longer neglect safety issues"
"The risk of safety accidents is very high. To resolve the congestion issue, cooperation is desperately needed not only from the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Gangdong District, but also from Gyeonggi Province and the cities of Guri and Namyangju. However, far from holding consultations, we are frustrated that we do not even receive any feedback when we reach out to them."
Lee Suhee, Mayor of Gangdong District in Seoul, poured out her concerns and worries as she raised the issue of congestion on Seoul Subway Line 8. After the opening of the Byeollae Line (Amsa Station to Byeollae Station) in August 2024, congestion during commuting hours surged even further, and in November last year, when one standby train was taken out of service for emergency repairs due to a crack in the car body, the morning rush-hour congestion rate rose to as high as 159.4%. In particular, congestion at Cheonho Station, an interchange station between Lines 5 and 8, is classified as being at a "danger level."
Lee Soohee, mayor of Gangdong District, explained the overcrowding issue on Subway Line 8 in an interview with this newspaper on the 11th. Courtesy of Gangdong District.
In an interview with The Asia Business Daily on the 11th, Mayor Lee expressed her frustration, saying, "Safety is more important than convenience," and "It is urgent to add more train cars on Line 8, but the Governor of Gyeonggi Province, who should be working with us to discuss and resolve this issue, has not even replied despite several requests for a meeting."
To resolve the congestion issue, additional trains are needed. To add trains, new rolling stock must be ordered, and the local governments along the line must hold consultations to share the costs. However, despite continuous requests from the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Gangdong District, Gyeonggi Province and other relevant local governments have remained completely unresponsive, offering no reply at all.
The real fear is 'safety accidents'
Mayor Lee said, "Subway Line 8 is already packed with commuters coming into Seoul from Byeollae, Dasan, and Guri, so it is difficult to even get on the train at Amsa Station, and the congestion at Cheonho and Jamsil stations is beyond description," adding, "Whether they are residents of Seoul or Gyeonggi Province, we cannot continue to stand by while passengers' safety is being threatened. I urge the relevant local governments to step up proactively, even now."
She also said, "Gangdong District fully cooperated not only when the Byeollae Line extension was planned, but also when the fourth-phase extension of Line 9 to Namyangju (the Gangdong-Hanam-Namyangju Line construction project) was approved. It is not right that, now that the Byeollae Line has actually opened, they are not cooperating."
Regarding the Line 5 through-connection project (Gubeundari Station to Dunchon-dong), which she has advocated since the beginning of her term, Mayor Lee said, "In the nine reconstruction complexes around Myeongil and Gil-dong alone, the number of households will increase by 5,120 compared to the existing level," and added, "Before a transportation crisis hits, the Line 5 through-connection project is absolutely necessary. We will work closely with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Ministry of Economy and Finance to improve its feasibility."
"Shortage of elementary schools in the old downtown... I will see it through to the end"
Education and childcare are areas where Mayor Lee is showing as much interest and effort as in transportation issues. In Gangdong District, three schools are preparing to open after sequentially passing the financial investment review of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education: the tentatively named Seoul Gangsol Elementary School Ganghyeon Campus in Godeok-Gangil District 3, the tentatively named Dunchon-dong Middle School Urban Campus in Olympic Park Foreon, and the tentatively named Seoul Gangyul Elementary School in Godeok-Gangil District 2.
Mayor Lee said, "The establishment of new schools did not start from a simple idea of expanding facilities, but from the recognition that it is the minimum responsibility to safeguard children's daily lives, and we focused on conveying the realities facing children and parents," adding, "It is also the result of visiting and directly persuading the Minister of Education, the Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, and the head of the Gangdong Songpa Office of Education multiple times."
As of the 11th, the population of Gangdong District was 499,537. Lee Suhee, mayor of Gangdong District, is pointing to the population status on the real-time city status board in the mayor's office. Provided by Gangdong District.
Regarding school issues arising from the full-scale redevelopment of the old downtown areas such as Cheonho-dong and Seongnae-dong, Mayor Lee said, "There is not a single elementary school in the redevelopment areas of the old downtown," and added, "I met with the superintendent and asked for a long-term plan. Although I have not received an immediate answer, I will continue to meet, explain, and persuade."
In the field of childcare, she cited as an achievement the fact that the "Gangdong-type project to improve the teacher-to-child ratio in daycare centers," implemented by Gangdong District since 2023, was converted into a national program this year. This project improves the ratio in infant classes from 3 children per teacher to 2, and in 3-year-old classes from 1:15 to 1:10.
Establishing mid- to long-term urban plans..."Presenting a vision for Gangdong District 10 years from now"
Mayor Lee pointed to the establishment of mid- to long-term urban plans, such as the "Gangdong Grand Design" and "Gangdong Hangang Greenway," as key projects for presenting a vision of Gangdong District 10 years from now. "After becoming mayor, I realized that Gangdong District had no mid- to long-term plans for the next 5 to 10 years," she said. "Over two years, we carried out a research project and prepared a long-term vision."
The population of Gangdong District (based on new move-ins) is expected to surpass 500,000 by the end of this month. Among Seoul's 25 autonomous districts, only three currently have populations exceeding 500,000: Songpa, Gangnam, and Gangseo. Regarding this, Mayor Lee said, "This is thanks to the high inflow ratio of younger residents and the active reconstruction and redevelopment projects."
In April last year, on the Day of Persons with Disabilities, Mayor Lee received a plaque of appreciation from parents of students with disabilities. It was a token of gratitude for the district's close support, including increasing the number of assistant teachers (learning aides) for students attending special schools, after listening to their voices.
"I have fulfilled most of the major pledges I made to residents when I took office as mayor, such as establishing new schools to resolve overcrowded classes, and I have received a lot of praise," Mayor Lee said. "But that plaque of appreciation, which recognized my sincere intentions, meant more to me than any other compliment or award."
Lee Suhui, Mayor of Gangdong District, explains the district's current issues. Provided by Gangdong District.
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