Seoul Policy Lacks Clear Direction as Experts Call for Return to Fundamentals

Calls for a structural overhaul of Seoul's transportation and urban policies gained renewed attention at a recent forum, where experts stressed the necessity for the city to move away from service-focused development and adopt more sustainable, ecological approaches.

At a seminar hosted on September 2 by the “Forum for Leading New and Deeper Changes in Seoul,” Professor Im Seungbin of Myongji University compared Mayor Oh Se-hoon's Hangang River Water Bus project with natural stream restoration efforts, contending that policy direction should shift “from service-oriented urban development to ecology-based urban recovery.” Professor Im criticized the water bus initiative, instead advocating for the restoration of natural streams that had previously been covered up in past development projects.

Im emphasized that such restoration projects could address the imbalance between the northern and southern parts of Seoul, as well as between the city's east and west. He further highlighted the potential to lower city temperatures by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius, reduce annual cooling energy consumption by over 1 trillion won, alleviate flood risks, and decrease carbon and fine dust emissions.

Professor Kim Yongchang of Seoul National University, in a presentation on Seoul's Leitbild (“guiding future image of urban space in the 21st century”), argued that Seoul’s spatial policies have frequently shifted, lacking a coherent philosophy and being carried out impulsively with each change in administration or political party.

During the seminar discussion, Park Hong-geun, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, remarked, “Recently, Seoul’s administration has shown an increasing tendency to focus on short-term achievements and flashy projects over long-term vision.” He added, “Policies like the Hangang River Water Bus not only fail to solve but may even worsen transportation disparities.” Park stressed the urgent need for policies that address Seoul’s structural imbalances and look towards the city’s future.

Agreeing with Professor Kim's critique, Park sharply stated, “Seoul’s policy-making lacks both direction and practicality, failing to adequately address pressing challenges like youth housing security and Seoul’s AI policy.”

Dr. Lee Jaeyoung and Professor Lee Jangho of Korea National University of Transportation, who spoke on transportation, raised concerns about delays in Seoul's urban railway projects and ongoing disparities in public transit access across the city’s different regions. Out of the urban railway network plans announced in 2020, the Gangbuk Transversal Line and Mokdong Line failed preliminary feasibility evaluations, while the Nangok Line has stalled due to withdrawal from such a review. The Seobu Line, though approved for private investment, suffers from insufficient business viability, making it challenging to secure investors.

They highlighted that Seoul's public transportation share has stagnated since 2010, with commuting congestion still ranging between 150% and 200%. The experts proposed a paradigm shift towards station-area development centered on cycling, rather than traditional pedestrian access. “If the definition of a station area is expanded from a five-minute walk (300 meters) to a 1.5-kilometer cycling radius, essentially the entire city of Seoul becomes a station area,” they explained.

Park Hong-geun supported this cycling-centered ‘five-minute rule,’ saying it holds significant meaning. He advocated considering the adoption of trams as a new icon for Seoul, emphasizing that “subways and light rail alone cannot sufficiently address the gaps in northern Seoul’s urban rail coverage.” Park concluded by noting the necessity for transportation policy that takes into account multiple complex factors—including demographic changes, transfer times, and climate crisis response.

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo=Provided by Korean Local Autonomy Society