Shin Sang-jin, the newly elected mayor of Seongnam, has officially launched his administration with the vision of establishing 'Seongnam as the standard for South Korea.'
Mayor Shin has expressed a strong commitment to delivering tangible changes and results that citizens can feel in their daily lives, with a focus on transportation and urban infrastructure.
In his inaugural speech, he stated, "We will eliminate the blind spots in subway access and create a super gap transportation city in Seongnam," highlighting key projects such as the extension of Subway Line 8, the Wirye-Samdong Line, and the Southern Gyeonggi Metropolitan Railway. He also emphasized the importance of a dense rail network, including SRT Oori Station, Dochon, Yatap, Pangyo, Seongnam City Hall, and Baekhyeon Mais Station.
Additionally, he proposed a plan to connect the old city center with Bundang, Pangyo, and Wirye through a 500 billion won railway construction fund and a comprehensive circular road network, aiming to create a 15-minute living zone across Seongnam.
A key feature of the transportation policy for this administration is the shift from merely adding a single route to connecting the entire city as a cohesive transportation network.
The most notable project is the extension of Subway Line 8 from Moran to Pangyo, which aims to enhance accessibility between the old city center and Pangyo, thereby strengthening the north-south transportation axis in Seongnam. The addition of the Wirye-Samdong Line is expected to further improve connectivity between Wirye, the old city center, and the Gwangju area.
The Southern Gyeonggi Metropolitan Railway is a core project for the regional transportation expansion in Seongnam. This 50.7 km line will connect Seoul with Seongnam, Yongin, Suwon, and Hwaseong, and Mayor Shin is focusing administrative efforts on incorporating it into the fifth national railway network construction plan.
He views this line as essential infrastructure linking the Pangyo Techno Valley and other advanced industrial hubs in southern Gyeonggi.
Strengthening the regional transportation system centered around GTX-A Seongnam Station is also a significant change. Mayor Shin aims to enhance transfer convenience between the GTX and local bus networks, transforming Seongnam Station into a major transportation hub rather than just a railway station.
Alongside expanding the rail network, improvements in local transportation are also a priority. The goal is to enhance transportation convenience for citizens by closely connecting buses, roads, and pedestrian environments.
To ensure the benefits of large-scale railway projects reach citizens' doorsteps, a robust bus and road system connecting stations with residential areas and industrial complexes is essential.
Enhancing the safety of urban infrastructure is another critical task for this administration. In his first executive communication meeting, Mayor Shin emphasized the importance of public safety and urged the need to create results that citizens can feel in their daily lives. This includes not only expanding new facilities but also safely managing existing roads, bridges, and urban infrastructure.
Community infrastructure is also a key aspect of urban policy that citizens can feel. The focus is on improving living spaces such as parks, rivers, pedestrian paths, and bike lanes to create a 'comfortable city' that goes beyond just being 'easy to move around in.'
Another reason Seongnam's transportation policy is gaining attention is its connection to industrial policy. Expanding advanced industries centered around Pangyo and establishing new industrial hubs near Oori Station necessitate the enhancement of transportation infrastructure.
Mayor Shin's emphasis on both advanced industries and transportation aims to proactively respond to the transportation demands arising from industrial growth.
In the previous administration, 134 out of 148 pledged projects were completed or are ongoing, achieving a 97.4% fulfillment rate. The ninth administration is now tasked with translating this foundation into tangible results for citizens.
Ultimately, the success of Mayor Shin's transportation and urban infrastructure policies will depend not on how many projects are announced, but on how quickly they are realized to change citizens' lives.
If the national plans for major railway projects like the extension of Line 8, the Wirye-Samdong Line, and the Southern Gyeonggi Metropolitan Railway are implemented, along with improvements to the transfer system centered around GTX-A Seongnam Station, and enhancements to buses, roads, and pedestrian environments, Seongnam's urban competitiveness could significantly increase.
The vision of 'Seongnam as the standard for South Korea' will ultimately be evaluated in the daily lives of its citizens. A city where commuting times are reduced, transfers are convenient, public transportation is accessible close to home, and safe roads, bridges, pleasant parks, and pedestrian environments are enjoyed is the change that the ninth administration of Seongnam aims to achieve.
From 'planning Seongnam' to 'experiencing Seongnam,' Mayor Shin's transportation and urban infrastructure policies aim not only to change the map of Seongnam but also to transform the daily lives of its citizens.
Mayor Shin concluded, "The remaining task is to connect plans to execution, projects to results, and results to citizens' experiences."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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