Hyundai E&C has broken ground on the "Daejang–Hongdae Metropolitan Railway Private Investment Project" (Daejang–Hongdae Line), which will become a core part of the western Seoul metropolitan area's mass transit network.
Hyundai E&C said on the 16th that it held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Daejang–Hongdae Line at the soccer field in Ojeong Grand Park in Ojeong-gu, Bucheon, on the 15th.
The event was attended by Gyeonggi Province Gov. Kim Dong-yeon, Chairman Kim Yong-seok of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Metropolitan Transport Commission, government and political figures, representatives of the builders including Hyundai E&C CEO Lee Han-woo, and local residents.
The Daejang–Hongdae Line is a project to build a 20.1-kilometer metropolitan railway connecting Daejang New Town in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, and Hongdae Ipgu Station in Mapo District, Seoul. Aiming to open in 2031, the project will build 12 stations and one rail yard, with a total project cost of 2.1287 trillion won.
Proposed first in 2020 by a consortium formed by Hyundai E&C (Seobu Metropolitan Metro Co., Ltd.), the project is cited as a model case of public-private partnership. By applying a mixed model combining BTO (Build Transfer Operate) and BTL (Build Transfer Lease) for the first time in Korea, it reduced the burden not only on the operator but also on users. The construction section is divided into five zones in total. Among them, Hyundai E&C is responsible for Zone 1 at the railway's starting point in Daejang New Town and Zone 4, which runs from Gayang Station under the Han River to Sangam.
When the Daejang–Hongdae Line opens, the current 57-minute trip from Bucheon's Daejang District to Seoul's Hongdae will be cut roughly in half to 27 minutes. As it passes through Hwagok and Gayang and continues to Sangam and Hongdae Ipgu, transportation infrastructure in the western Seoul metropolitan area—including Bucheon, Gangseo District, and even Deogeun District in Goyang—will improve, and access to downtown Seoul is expected to expand.
The Daejang–Hongdae Line also boasts strong organic links with major rail networks in the metropolitan area. It passes through key transfer stations including: ▲ Wonjong Station (Seohae Line) ▲ Hwagok Station (Line 5) ▲ Gayang Station (Line 9) ▲ Hongdae Ipgu Station (Line 2, Airport Railroad, Gyeongui–Jungang Line). Riders will be able to travel quickly and conveniently throughout Seoul. A Hyundai E&C official said that by connecting emerging residential areas in the western region with downtown Seoul, nearby redevelopment projects will also gain momentum.
A Hyundai E&C official said, "Because this is a demanding project that cuts through the Han River and urban areas, we will mobilize all the technology and know-how Hyundai E&C has to ensure safe construction," adding, "We will do our utmost to open the railway on schedule to help ease the commuting burden of residents in the western metropolitan area and contribute to balanced regional development."