Myeonmok Line, a '20-Year Long-Awaited Project,' Caught in Construction Cost Trap... 'Residents Push Back' over Depot Relocation

Construction Cost Surge Puts Project at Risk of PFS Reassessment
Plans to Cut Two Stations and Relocate Train Depot
Seoul: "A New PFS Would Make Opening Impossible to Guarantee"
Sinnae Station-Area Residents Push Back: "We'll Be Reduced to a Bed Town"

The Myeonmok Line urban railway, a long-awaited project for northeastern Seoul that was finally revived after more than 20 years of stalled progress, has significantly cut its construction budget. Deeming it difficult to pass a preliminary feasibility study (PFS) amid soaring construction costs, the project is being scaled back to avoid a reassessment, including by reducing the number of stations and relocating the train depot. Residents who had expected to benefit are already voicing opposition, and the project is facing difficulties almost as soon as it has gotten underway.

According to a proposal on changes to the Myeonmok Line train depot location and project costs obtained by The Asia Business Daily on October 30, the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to cut the project cost by 49.4 billion won from the original plan by reducing the number of stations and relocating the depot. These changes are expected to lower compensation costs, construction costs, and ancillary facility expenses.

The Myeonmok Line urban railway project will connect Sinnae-dong in Jungnang-gu, northeastern Seoul, with Cheongnyangni. Linked to existing subway Lines 1, 6, and 7 and the Gyeongchun Line, as well as the planned GTX-B and GTX-C routes, it is considered key infrastructure that will significantly improve the transport network in northeastern Seoul. First proposed as a private investment project in 2005, it languished for nearly 20 years before finally passing the Ministry of Economy and Finance's preliminary feasibility study in 2024. The Seoul Metropolitan Government held a public hearing and announced the basic plan, targeting construction to begin in the second half of 2027 and completion in 2034.

However, soaring construction costs have put the project on hold. The Myeonmok Line's estimated total project cost is 1.4353 trillion won, with the national government covering 40% and the Seoul Metropolitan Government 60%. Under current law, a reassessment is required if the total project cost rises by 15% or more compared with the amount used in the preliminary feasibility study. To keep the increase within 15%, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has presented a revised basic plan that removes two stations from the proposal and relocates the train depot, thereby adjusting the project's scale.

Residents are pushing back. With fewer stations available, using the line will inevitably become less convenient. Complaints also poured in at a recent meeting at Jungnang District Office in Seoul attended by Ryu Kyung-gi, head of Jungnang-gu, and representatives of residents living near Sinnae Station. A representative of residents in the area said, "This area is severely lacking in public facilities and everyday infrastructure for residents. If two train depots are built nearby, the entire neighborhood will become a 'bed town' where people only sleep after work. The city should transparently disclose specific calculations showing how much relocating the depot will save in construction costs."

The Seoul Metropolitan Government says the current revised plan is an unavoidable choice if the project is to proceed without a reassessment. A city official said, "The Myeonmok Line only just managed to pass the preliminary feasibility study. If we conduct it again, there is no guarantee the project will pass." The official added, "The train depot planned near the site of the new Dongjin School will be built entirely underground. We plan to minimize the impact by developing public amenities and green space above ground."

An official at Jungnang District Office said, "There is strong demand to move ahead as soon as possible because this is a long-awaited project. However, we will also carefully consider the concerns of residents who fear they will be affected by the depot relocation and work with the city to reach an agreement."

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