We are already prepared. We will put the Gyeongui Line railroad section in front of Yonsei University in Sinchon underground, bring in a bio complex on that site, and build a startup support center. As foot traffic increases, it will even make it possible to revitalize the Sinchon and Ewha commercial districts.
Seo Seodaemun District chief Lee said in an interview at ChosunBiz headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Dec. 8 about the status of local development efforts, We have formed a Gyeongui Line undergrounding team to respond, and We were selected last year for the city's pilot project, and the goal is to include the Gyeongui Line in next year's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) pilot project to put ground-level rail underground.
The Gyeongui Line undergrounding would move the 5.8-kilometer railroad section that continues above ground from Seoul Station to Gajwa Station below ground. This would secure 0.165 square kilometers (about 49,912 pyeong) of land above ground. That is the size of 22 soccer fields (7,410 square meters, about 2,241 pyeong). The idle land will be divided into a medical-specialized mixed hub, a residential mixed hub, and a public cultural hub, bringing in various types of infrastructure such as an industry-academia joint research complex linked with Yonsei University and Severance Hospital, a youth startup research complex, as well as various housing facilities, performance halls, parks, and parking lots.
The district chief said, We have even created all the relevant laws, and if the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) makes an announcement, we can get to work the very next day, and There are already places that have expressed an intention to attract private investment. The following is a Q&A with the chief.
— If you evaluate the results so far in the 8th popular election term.
Since taking office as district chief in July 2022, we have completed 54 of 67 campaign pledges to date. As a ratio, that is 81%. The remaining pledges in progress are largely in the redevelopment sector, which is difficult to complete in a short time. We are working to fulfill the remaining pledges as well to make the area even more livable.
— Indicators from the community survey are positive.
In the 2024 community survey conducted by Statistics Korea, we ranked third in the overall life satisfaction category. Compared with 2021 (17th), before taking office, that is a jump of 14 places. When I go into the field and hear residents say that Seodaemun is changing, I feel rewarded.
Three key initiatives proved effective. In housing, we quickly pushed ahead with redevelopment projects to improve market access. Second is education. We have rolled out many policies so children can run and play freely from a young age and study safely. There are also people in need in the area. Through our life-care services, about 1,000 people are receiving welfare benefits.
— You are drawing attention particularly in culture and education.
We created a waterfall cafe where you can enjoy Hongjecheon and an artificial waterfall at the same time, and it is establishing itself as a global tourist attraction. The assessment is that it has elevated Seodaemun District's brand.
We have allocated a 10 billion won education support budget to help improve the educational environment for growing children. Seodaemun District is a place where five large mountains and streams come together. If housing conditions are well refurbished, it is a good environment to become a city living in the forest. Satisfaction among existing residents is 95%, to the point that they say they will not move to another area.
— Some areas are underdeveloped.
The area around Inwang Market and Yujin Shopping Center is underdeveloped. It is the most congested place in the area, but it has not been properly developed for 20 years. We gathered opinions from residents more than 30 times. As a result, with the activation of the station area project, it was designated as a redevelopment zone by the Urban Development Committee.
If development approval comes in April next year, construction can start in 2029. Two 49-story buildings with a total of 1,121 apartment units are planned. This is the first case nationwide in which a district office has stepped in as the project implementer. We will push ahead quickly and solidly.
— There has been continued talk that the Sinchon commercial district is struggling.
The Sinchon area is divided into the area in front of Yonsei University and the Ewha area, and while there were big concerns about many vacancies, it has recently begun to revitalize. We are discussing with building owners and schools and providing policy support, such as festivals, to strengthen the commercial district.
We also abolished the list of recommended business types, such as clothing and accessories retail shops and hair and beauty salons, to help the commercial district in front of Ewha recover. We are recently reviewing various ways to increase foot traffic. In particular, by attracting SM Group headquarters to Sinchon Minja Station, more than 600 employees are now based there. We are currently consulting with SM Group so that more affiliates can work in Sinchon.
— What are the development plans linked with local universities?
As a university city with nine universities in the district, cooperation with local universities is important. Also, because there is Severance Hospital, it is well-suited to build a bio industrial complex. In connection with Yonsei University's College of Engineering, we have long been planning industry-academia cooperation in batteries and AI (artificial intelligence), and with Ewha, to build a large performance hall to energize K-pop.
— Are there difficulties from regulations in the course of development?
Seodaemun District has many mountains, streams, and universities, so residential and commercial land is relatively scarce compared with other districts. It would be good to ease the restrictions a bit on places that are state-owned land or designated as green belts. For example, there are about 20 unauthorized buildings on the slopes of Bukhansan Mountain, and because they are tied up in a green belt, there are various constraints even if we try to redevelop.
— The district office's women's basketball team is achieving good results.
Under the National Sports Promotion Act, public institutions with more than 1,000 employees are required to select and foster one sport. Under that law, we launched a women's basketball team in Mar. 2023. There are four national tournaments a year, and we won all of them last year and won twice this year as well. We enjoyed publicity effects worth about 10 billion won, including media coverage. However, the district council cut the entire 840 million won budget for the basketball team. That is less than 0.09% of Seodaemun District's total budget. It is disappointing.
— What are your goals going forward?
Residents' trust is most important. We will gather what residents want and do our best to raise life satisfaction. I have lived in the Seodaemun area for nearly 50 years. Because of that, I also understand the difficulties in every corner of the neighborhood. We have worked for residents' 200% happiness. Starting next year, we will aim for 300% happiness.