People Power Party Seoul mayoral candidate Oh Se-hoon on the 10th announced transportation pledges to expand transportation infrastructure in Seoul, including extending urban rail lines. The centerpiece is to invest about 20 trillion won to complete seven urban rail lines in Seoul and improve convenience by reducing subway headways and introducing express buses.
On the 10th at his campaign camp in Gwancheol-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Oh announced his "five-piece transportation innovation set" pledges, which include breaking ground on urban rail lines and easing subway congestion in the city.
In this pledge announcement, Oh put forward improving subway congestion in Seoul as the most distinctive core pledge from candidate Chong Won-o.
To ease subway congestion, Oh said he would introduce a wireless communication–based train control system (CBTC) that can precisely track train locations and flexibly adjust intervals. He also outlined plans to add trains to existing lines and shorten subway headways to alleviate crowding.
Oh said, "To solve subway congestion in Seoul, there is a lot of talk about lengthening trains or adding trains, but those options are very ineffective for the expense," adding, "The most realistic approach that can use cutting-edge science and technology is the wireless communication method." He continued, "We intend to apply CBTC to the Ui–Sinseol extension now under construction, and we expect it to reduce congestion by 20% compared with the previous method."
Oh also said he would push ahead without a hitch with highway construction and subway line expansion projects by using the Gangbuk Renaissance Fund. He said, "It will cost more than 5 trillion won in total to build the Gangbuk east–west underground urban expressway and the southern ring underground expressway," adding, "Because these are projects that citizens have strongly hoped for, some ask, 'Can that really be done?' but we have even prepared plans to secure funding."
He also said he would push ahead without a hitch with expanding urban rail lines in Seoul. Oh plans to invest about 9.2 trillion won to complete seven urban rail lines, including the Gangbuk Crosstown Line, Myeonmok Line, Seobu Line, and Mokdong Line.
Oh said, "The Gangbuk Crosstown Line, Mokdong Line, and Nangok Line are essential, but in economic feasibility analyses their benefit–cost (BC) values have come out somewhat low; nevertheless, I promise to see them through with determination," adding, "We have reached some agreement with the government on ways to quantify not only economic viability but also social necessity so the projects can pass the preliminary feasibility study."
In addition, Oh said he would implement the "Seoul Climate Companion Pass," which combines the Climate Companion Card with the K-Pass, starting in July this year. He also outlined a plan to use roughly 100 billion won in national subsidies obtained through this to cover 100% of transportation costs for seniors aged 70 and older who use village buses or the subway fewer than 15 times a month.