Dongducheon City Expands Transportation, Cultural, and Welfare Infrastructure in 8th Administration... Major Transformation in Settlement Conditions

[8th Administration Review] Four Years of Transforming Daily Life for Residents

GTX-C Extension and Development of Complex Cultural Facilities

Significant Expansion of Transportation, Culture, and Welfare Infrastructure

Upgrading Dongducheon into a More Livable City

Dongducheon City in Gyeonggi Province has been making visible progress in improving the quality of life for its residents and enhancing settlement conditions by expanding infrastructure across transportation, culture, sports, welfare, and leisure during the 8th popularly elected administration.

According to Dongducheon City on June 11, over the past four years, the city has implemented projects closely tied to citizens' daily lives, such as confirming the extension of the GTX-C Line to Dongducheon, working to improve the train intervals on Subway Line 1, establishing the Complex Cultural Community Center and Eoullim Center, expanding the functions of the Natural Recreation Forest, and increasing welfare facilities for the elderly and people with disabilities. These initiatives are aimed at strengthening the city's competitiveness.

GTX-C Line Extension Route Map (left) and Promotion of Shuttle Train Operation on Subway Line 1. Provided by Dongducheon City

GTX-C Extension Confirmed and Shorter Subway Line 1 Intervals... Dongducheon Becomes a More Convenient City for Commuters

The most notable achievement has been in transportation. Due to its geographical location on the northern outskirts of the Seoul metropolitan area, Dongducheon has long suffered from poor accessibility to Seoul and infrequent subway service, causing ongoing inconvenience for residents.

As a result, the city persistently petitioned the central government and related agencies, ultimately securing the extension of the GTX-C Line to Dongducheon.

Once the GTX-C Line opens, travel from Dongducheon to Seoul's Samseong Station is expected to take just over 30 minutes. In addition, the city is collaborating with the National Railroad Corporation, Korea Railroad Corporation, Gyeonggi Province, Yangju City, and Yeoncheon County to introduce shuttle train services on the Gyeongwon Line. Aiming for a 2027 launch, the plan calls for 20 round trips between Dongducheon and Yangju stations and 8 round trips between Dongducheon and Yeoncheon stations each day, which is expected to improve the train intervals on Subway Line 1.

With the extension of the GTX-C Line and the full-scale operation of the Subway Line 1 shuttle train, residents' travel times will be reduced, and public transportation convenience will be greatly enhanced. Moreover, these developments are likely to revitalize areas around stations, increase foot traffic, and attract corporate investment, positioning Dongducheon as a major transportation hub in the northern metropolitan area.

Panoramic view of the Complex Cultural Community Center (left) and Yoorim Center. Provided by Dongducheon City

Expansion of Complex Cultural and Sports Facilities... Public Services Close to Home

The expansion of cultural and sports infrastructure is also noteworthy. The city invested approximately 30 billion won to establish the Complex Cultural Community Center on the site of a former foreigner apartment complex that had been neglected for years. The center houses the Orbit Library, which specializes in youth services, a media center, a youth startup support center, and a performance venue, serving as a cultural and educational hub for the old downtown area.

In Saengyeon-dong, the city invested a total of 31.6 billion won to build the Dongducheon Eoullim Center. As a multi-purpose facility equipped with a swimming pool, table tennis hall, kids’ healthcare center, and comprehensive childcare support center, the Eoullim Center functions as a central hub where residents can access sports, childcare, and leisure services all in one place.

Furthermore, the city established the Saengyeon Sharing Nuri Center with a total budget of 11 billion won, providing additional space for community communication and activities. In the new downtown area, the city secured 33 billion won in provincial funding and is investing a total of 44 billion won to build the Songnae Complex Parking Center, which will provide 397 parking spaces and help alleviate parking shortages. Additionally, at 722 Jihaeng-dong, the city is investing a total of 122.9 billion won to construct 210 public rental housing units, specially designed for youth and newlyweds.

Opening of Dongducheon Natural Recreation Forest Limb Spa (left) and Dongducheon Natural Recreation Forest Eoullim. Provided by Dongducheon City

Creation of Natural Recreation Forest and Wangbang Valley Forest Trail... Healing Spaces Close to the City

In the fields of leisure and tourism, the city is focusing on establishing a tourism base that utilizes its forest resources for extended stays.

Although Dongducheon boasts outstanding natural environments such as Soyo Mountain, Wangbang Mountain, and Tapdong Valley, the city has lacked sufficient infrastructure to link these assets to stay-type tourism and local economic revitalization. To address this, the city is expanding the function of the Dongducheon Natural Recreation Forest from accommodation-focused to a multi-purpose resort that combines experience, relaxation, and wellness.

The "Eoullim" facility within the recreation forest includes a seminar room that can accommodate 150 people and guest rooms for groups, while the "Limb Spa," combining forest therapy and spa facilities, has also been completed and is now in operation.

Additionally, the city is investing 9.2 billion won in government funding to develop a 5.6-kilometer Wangbang Valley Forest Trail stretching from Tapdong Bridge to the recreation forest. This project, scheduled for completion in December 2027, will install resting spots and pedestrian bridges, connecting water and forest trails.

When completed, residents will be able to enjoy forest experiences, relaxation, wellness, and walking within the city without having to travel far. The influx of outside tourists is also expected to revitalize local businesses, and Dongducheon aims to strengthen its competitiveness as a leading healing city in the northern metropolitan area.

Exterior view of the Senior Center and Disability Center (left) and the wheelchair basketball program at Bandabi Sports Center. Provided by Dongducheon City

Expansion of Welfare Infrastructure for the Elderly, People with Disabilities, and Children

The city is also achieving results in expanding welfare infrastructure. With a total investment of 21.3 billion won, Dongducheon built the Senior Citizens’ Center and the Disabled Persons’ Center. The Senior Citizens’ Center operates as a comprehensive welfare space supporting leisure, health management, and job placement programs, while the Disabled Persons’ Center serves as a comprehensive welfare facility for counseling, education, and group activities.

In the field of childcare, the city opened the third Together Care Center by utilizing unused classrooms at Idam Elementary School. The center provides after-school care and a variety of programs for elementary students, helping to reduce the childcare burden for dual-income families.

The city is also operating the Bandabi Sports Center, which can be used by both people with and without disabilities. With a total investment of 19.8 billion won, the Bandabi Sports Center functions as an integrated sports facility for all and was recognized for its contribution to the promotion of sports for the disabled by receiving a commendation from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2025.

Dongducheon Mayor Park Hyungdeok stated, "True urban development is not just about constructing facilities, but about how much benefit citizens receive and how much their quality of life improves within those spaces. Over the past four years, we have steadily built settlement infrastructure directly connected to citizens’ daily lives, from expanding metropolitan transportation networks to creating complex cultural facilities and welfare centers for the elderly and people with disabilities."

He added, "We will continue to implement key projects for balanced development between the old and new downtown areas without setbacks, and build an even more robust social safety net so that not a single citizen, from children to seniors, is left out. Our goal is to make Dongducheon the most livable and vibrant city in the northern metropolitan area."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.