Seoul Metro will add a new entrance at Seongsu Station on Seoul Subway Line 2. As Seongsu-dong in Seongdong District has emerged as a "hot place," drawing tourists and more office workers, the station has become crowded, prompting the measure.
Seoul Metro said on the 25th that to ease congestion caused by increased foot traffic during the evening commute, it decided to add a new staircase directly in front of the heavily used Exit 3. It comes about two weeks after Seongdong District Chief Jeong Won-o publicly protested on the 9th on Facebook, calling on Seoul Metro to keep its promise to "add an entrance."
◇Seongsu Station ranks 13th in Seoul by ridership… 10,000 more people a year
As foot traffic in Seongsu-dong increased, ridership at Seongsu Station also rose. Fashion, entertainment, and startup corporations such as Musinsa, SOCAR, and SM Entertainment set up in Seongsu-dong, boosting commuting demand by office workers. During the evening rush, crowds trying to go up to Seongsu Station spill over the sidewalk, forming long lines onto the roadway.
According to Seoul Metro, Seongsu Station's average daily ridership was 58,499 in 2021, 67,849 in 2022, 78,018 in 2023, and 88,059 last year. That amounts to an increase of 10,000 each year. It ranked 13th out of 276 stations in Seoul by ridership.
But Seongsu Station has only four entrances, which are old and narrow, having remained unchanged since Line 2 opened. In Aug. last year, Seoul Metro announced a plan to add staircases behind Exits 2 and 3.
◇Seoul Metro announced plan in Aug. last year to add two entrances… construction not started
To prevent a crowd crush, Seongdong District transferred some street stalls from Seongsu Station and changed the location of a crosswalk. But construction to add entrances has not even begun. Originally, Seoul Metro said it would finish by Oct. this year.
As the situation dragged on, Jeong Won-o, the Seongdong District chief from the Democratic Party of Korea, posted on Facebook on the 9th, saying, "Seoul Metro is saying it will not add exits since congestion has eased thanks to Seongdong District's temporary measures," and added, "Seoul Metro President Baek Ho must keep the (add-entrance) promise made on-site."
The delay in adding entrances stems from a budget issue. On the 12th, Seoul City Council member Hwang Cheol-gyu from the People Power Party said that adding two entrances at Seongsu Station simultaneously would require 6.8 billion won in construction expense. He added that if only one new entrance is installed near Exit 3, where congestion is most severe, and if the entrance is placed outside rather than inside, the work could be completed for 1.5 billion won.
Seoul Metro's analysis found that during the evening commute, 30% of the roughly 18,000 people getting on and off per day use Exit 3, which is near corporate offices and popular stores.
Seoul Metro ultimately decided to add an extra staircase directly in front of Exit 3. The construction cost is 1.9 billion won, and a feasibility study showed a benefit-cost (B/C) value of 1.54, securing economic viability. Seoul Metro plans to finalize the construction contract within the year.