Politics · South Korea · 3 hrs ago
Mapo mayor backs new DMC station and pledges local funding
Mapo Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun says a new Digital Media City station must be built to improve transport for residents of the Seoul district.
The station is part of the planned Daejang-Hongdae rail line, and its estimated cost has risen from about 80 billion won to more than 100 billion won.
Seoul is discussing paying about half, while Mapo has asked Lotte to contribute because a shopping complex it is planning nearby could benefit.
Lotte has not committed, though Yoo says he has heard it is considering the request positively.
Mapo plans to set aside about 5 billion won each year from fiscal 2028, and Yoo says a 25 billion won Lotte contribution would bring the district's share to about 25 billion won.
Yoo also wants authority over some smaller redevelopment decisions transferred to local governments, saying this could speed up projects; a district task force is already advising on 61 projects.
He remains opposed to expanding or building an incinerator in Mapo, and says the district will continue a separate lawsuit over a waste facility in nearby Eunpyeong.
Mapo Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun said the district should build a new Digital Media City (DMC) station on the Daejang-Hongdae line and pledged local funding.
The station project is now expected to cost more than 100 billion won, up from an initial estimate of about 80 billion won.
Yoo said Mapo plans to budget about 5 billion won a year from fiscal 2028, and has asked Lotte to contribute to the cost.
He said Lotte’s 25 billion won contribution could reduce Mapo’s share to about 25 billion won, but the company has not confirmed its decision.
Yoo said the station is needed to improve transport convenience for Mapo residents.
- Who
- Mapo Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun.
- What
- He backed building a new DMC station and pledged district funding for the project.
- When
- He discussed the plan in an interview marking his 100th day in office, held on October 20, 2026.
- Where
- Mapo District, Seoul, South Korea.
- Why
- Yoo said the station is needed for Mapo residents’ transport convenience.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Yoo won election as Mapo mayor, returning to the post.
Mapo launched a task force to speed up redevelopment and reconstruction projects.
Yoo discussed the DMC station plan in an interview marking his 100th day in office.
Yonhap published the interview.
- Current project estimate
- More than 100 billion won
- Initial project estimate
- About 80 billion won
- Planned annual district funding
- About 5 billion won from fiscal 2028
- Potential Lotte contribution
- 25 billion won; not confirmed
- Potential Mapo contribution
- About 25 billion won if Lotte pays 25 billion won
What people are saying
For the convenience of Mapo residents, the DMC station must be built.
Since Lotte will also benefit if the DMC station is built, I asked it to share the cost.
If Lotte contributes 25 billion won, the amount Mapo has to pay will also fall to about 25 billion won.