Gimpo’s incorporation into Seoul to help boost competitiveness, says experts

[Photo by Lee Chung-woo]

The incorporation of Gimpo City in Gyeonggi Province into Seoul will serve as an opportunity to boost the waning competitiveness of the capital city, according to experts.

“Seoul’s administrative districts have not changed for 100 years, which can lead to inefficiencies in infrastructure supply,” said Professor Ma Kang-rae of urban planning and real estate at Chung-Ang University. “It is time for discussions on restructuring and reforming the administrative districts at the national level.”

Ma’s comments were made as the ruling People Power Party has called for the incorporation of Gimpo into Seoul.

Proponents noted that the incorporation is necessary to help resolve overpopulation in Seoul.

They also said that the incorporation could give momentum to the Han River Renaissance Project and other city planning policies for Megacity Seoul, which Mayor Oh Se-hoon has been promoting since taking office.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is currently promoting the operation of water buses on routes such as one between Gimpo and Yeouido, the financial district in Seoul, as part of its Great Han River Project.

The incorporation would also make it possible for the city government to develop a port through the West Sea and connect the estuary of the Han River to the Han River Renaissance Project.

Furthermore, it could help address the challenge of securing land for waste disposal, which is becoming increasingly challenging for Seoul.

The capital city needs to secure its own landfill sites by 2025. The inclusion of Gimpo could make it easier to discuss securing additional landfills.

It remains to be seen, however, whether the outlying towns and areas of Gimpo would agree, according to Hong Jun-hyun, a professor of the School of Public Service at Chung-Ang University.

Benefits are also anticipated for Gimpo in the terms of transportation and education.

In particular, the convenience for citizens commuting from Gimpo to Seoul could significantly improve.

Gimpo City is considering extending Seoul Subway Line 5 as an alternative to complement the Gimpo Gold Line that is highly congested.

It is currently in conflict with Incheon Metropolitan City over the extension of Line 5. If Gimpo were to be incorporated into Seoul, it could secure a more favorable position for the extension of the line.

The incorporation of Gimpo into Seoul requires approval from the Seoul Metropolitan Council, the Gimpo City Council, and the Gyeonggi Province Assembly.

The National Assembly also needs to enact a relevant law, and a process of reconciling internal opinions within Gimpo is essential.