On the 28th, Mapo District in Seoul stated that it has requested the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and related agencies to relocate the endpoint of the Gwangyeok-cheoldo Daechang-Hongdae Line, currently in progress, about 400 meters southwest from the initially planned location of 111 Station (scheduled to be Hongdae Entrance Station).
The Daechang-Hongdae Line is a metropolitan railway that connects the Daechang district in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, to Hongdae Entrance Station in Mapo District, Seoul. The government plans to commence construction this year and open it in 2031. It will start from the Daechang New Town, pass through Gangseo District, and connect to Deukeun District in Goyang City, as well as Sangam-dong, before reaching Hongdae Entrance.
According to a report from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the endpoint of 111 Station will be installed near Exit 8 of Hongdae Entrance Station in the Red Road section. Mapo District noted that this location is a representative tourist area visited by 52% of foreign visitors to Seoul, stating that it is a place crowded with people, where street performances and various events are concentrated, and that there are many pedestrians.
Mapo District has commissioned an external firm to study how the construction of a metropolitan railway station at the planned location will impact pedestrian safety, traffic operations, and the business district. The review found that if the station is built, pedestrian flow will be severely congested, and there is a high risk of crowd-related accidents during year-end, New Year, and Halloween festivals.
Additionally, it is expected that noise, vibrations, and restricted access during construction will negatively affect nearby commercial businesses. According to Mapo, local merchants, residents, and cultural artists in the Hongdae area are filing complaints requesting a change in the station's location.
The consulting firm proposed an alternative to place 111 Station at the intersection of Hongdae Entrance Station. This site is located about 400 meters southwest of the originally planned location, where pedestrian flow can be efficiently dispersed and concerns about construction damage are relatively low.
The planned site for the station is currently being used as a plaza. Mapo District explained that if the station and entrance/exits are constructed as planned, the cultural tourism infrastructure developed by Mapo District could be severely damaged.
On the 17th, Mapo District officially conveyed its opinion to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, and related agencies, including the West Metropolitan Metro, that there is a need to change the location of the 111 Station to the Hongdae Entrance intersection.
Park Gang-soo, the head of Mapo District Office, stated, "The location of the station should be approached with caution, considering the safety of residents, the local business district, and the future of urban space," and added, "I hope the district's position will be adequately reflected in the future approval process for the implementation plan."