Gangdong-gu Conducts Site Inspection Ahead of the Opening of Amsa Historical Park Station and Endeavors to Solve Transportation Issues

- The head of Gangdong-gu Lee Soo-hee visited the construction site of Amsa Historical Park Station ahead of its completion in June this year, stressing the importance of safety on the construction site

- Gangdong-gu endeavors to solve transportation issues by relieving the congestion before the extension of subway line 8 (Byeollae line) and creating new bus lines

  On the 19th, Lee Soo-hee, the head of Gangdong-gu visited the construction site of Amsa Historical Park Station check for any transportation issues before the opening. The Amsa Historical Park Station is planned to be completed by the end of June this year.

  On this day, the head of Gangdong-gu observed the exterior and interior of the station, including gates, waiting rooms, and platforms, and asked the officials to put safety first during the construction. She also emphasized the need to formulate measures as to the extension of subway line 8 (Byeollae line), such as relieving crowded subways and linkage with other public transportation systems.

  Amsa Historical Park Station, which is among the six new stations to be installed as part of the extension of subway line 8, is the only station to be installed within Seoul under the supervision of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Urban Infrastructure Division. Seoul plans to pave and paint a part of the ground section, test drive trains, and report to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport by the end of June.

  As the congestion of subway line 8 is expected to worsen due to an increase in the number of passengers after the opening of the Byeollae line, people are demanding measures to alleviate the anticipated issue. According to the 2023 subway congestion data of Seoul Metro, subway line 8 ranked the highest, with Gangdong-gu Office Station and Cheonho Station recording 138.7% and 127.8%, respectively. In particular, the opening of the Byeollae line will increase the subway congestion rate to over 150%, requiring Seoul Metro to implement measures to alleviate the congestion. 

  Since it is urgent to resolve the severe congestion of subway line 8, Gangdong-gu requested the following from Seoul Metro: (a) to take preemptive measures, such as an increase of the number of subway cars and train services, to alleviate the subway congestion; and (b) to examine various improvements, such as dispatching regular trains from Amsa Station to Moran Station. 

  Also, Gangdong-gu strongly requests the Seoul Metropolitan Government to create Arisu-ro bus lines that link between public transportations in accordance with the completion of construction of Amsa Historical Park Station. As to the Arisu-ro section (total length: about 4 km, from Seonsa Elementary School to Gangil-dong Entrance Intersection), residents nearby have continued to demand installing new bus lines, it was difficult to positively respond to such requests due to a relative lack of demand for public transportation. However, it is analyzed that even the Seoul Metropolitan Government is positive to the creation of new Arisu-ro bus lines in light of the demand for buses to be triggered by the opening of the Byeollae line.

  In addition, Gangdong-gu continues to propose the Seoul Metropolitan Government install a bus bay near the gates of Amsa Historical Park Station in light of concerns of the nearby residents as to the possible traffic congestion caused by the creation of bus lines.

  Lee Soo-Hee, the head of Gangdong-gu, said, “Many residents await the opening of Amsa Historical Park Station and the Byeollae line. Accordingly, we will do our utmost to increase the traffic convenience of residents by strongly requesting the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Metro to formulate countermeasures, such as an increase of the number of subway cars and train services, to alleviate the anticipated congestion of subway line 8, and to create new bus lines linked with other public transportation.”