Incheon subway link eases commute for Gimpo Gold Valley industrial complex workers

Workers at the Gimpo Gold Valley Industrial Complex will no longer face chronic commuting difficulties after a long-standing transportation problem was resolved.

Gimpo City announced Tuesday that city bus No. 1002, which runs between Wanjeongsageori and Seoul, will operate on a revised route starting Thursday.

The overhaul was prompted by the relocation of the No. 1002 bus depot from Wanjeongsageori in Incheon's Seo-gu to Daepori in Yangchon-eup, near the entrance to the 2nd Marine Division.

The city coordinated with Incheon to ensure the revised route passes directly through the Gimpo Gold Valley Industrial Complex.

Under the new alignment, the route's starting point will be extended to the 2nd Marine Division entrance, with four new stops added: Ejentechnozone, Hwanggeumsan Industrial Complex 3 Intersection, Geomdan Oryu Station and Wanggil Station.

The changes will allow passengers on Incheon Metro Line 1 (Ara Station) and Line 2 (Wanjeong Station, Wanggil Station and Geomdan Oryu Station) to reach the industrial complex with a single transfer, completing a public transit link to the complex.

At the same time, the Seoul segment — running from the National Assembly building to Gwanghwamun Station — has been shortened due to chronic congestion and low ridership from Gimpo residents, which stood at just 1.7 percent. The new terminus on that end will be Yeomchang Donga 3rd Apartment complex.

The route streamlining is also expected to improve schedule reliability and reduce gaps between buses.

"The core standard of Gimpo City's transportation policy under the ninth elected-term administration is improving convenience that residents can actually feel," Mayor Lee Gi-hyeong said. "We will continue to do our best to improve the commuting environment for industrial complex workers and all citizens."