Concerns grow over safety of subway commuters at Seongsu Station amid worsening rush hour congestion

People line up for an escalator at exit 3 of Seongsu Station on Seoul Metro Line 2 during rush hour, July 12. Yonhap

Safety concerns have been growing at Seongsu Station on Seoul Metro Line 2, where a significant increase in the number of commuters has led to severe congestion during rush hour, according to commuters and city officials, Thursday.

The congestion near the station has been exacerbated by a surge in the floating population as Seongsu-dong in Seongdong District has become increasingly popular with both office workers and the younger generation.

The area has recently attracted the headquarters of several famous startup companies, including fashion retailer Musinsa, car-sharing firm called Socar and even SM Entertainment. This has brought a significant influx of office workers to the district.

Moreover, Seongsu-dong has emerged as a trendy spot for the younger generation, boasting unique cafes and frequent pop-up stores, further increasing the floating population.

According to Seoul Metro, the average daily number of passengers during rush hour at Seongsu Station increased from 8,786 in 2014 to 11,820 in 2020, reaching 18,252 in 2024 — a 2.1-fold rise over the past decade.

From January to May this year, the station saw an average of 85,216 people pass through each day, ranking 14th among the 285 subway stations managed by the transportation authority.

However, the station struggles to accommodate this increased demand with its four old and narrow exits, which have remained unchanged since the station opened in the 1980s.

Notably, the area around exit 3 has many startup headquarters and trendy stores that are popular among the younger generation, making it the busiest exit.

About 5,676 rush hour commuters, or 31 percent, use exit 3, which is the most among all four exits.

Exit 3 is equipped only with escalators, leading to long queues and hazardous conditions, especially during rush hour.

At 6 p.m., when rush hour usually starts, lines often extend to the crosswalk in front of the exit as people wait to use the escalator.

"It happens every time during rush hour, so the company I worked for allowed employees to start early and leave at 5:30 p.m.," said an office worker surnamed Park in his 30s, who worked in Seongsu-dong until March.

"There is only one narrow escalator, and the other exits are too far away," he added.

Design plans for a new staircase at Seongsu Station on Seoul Metro Line 2 / Courtesy of Seoul Metro

In response, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has directed the transportation authority to implement special measures to ensure the safety of citizens.

Seoul Metro has decided to add a staircase to exit 3, addressing the high concentration of the floating population at this exit. A similar staircase will also be installed at exit 2, across the street from exit 3, to encourage a more even distribution of passengers.

Given the urgency for civic safety, the plan is to complete the design by the end of this year, with the new staircases is expected to be finished by October next year, according to Seoul Metro.

Meanwhile, the Seongdong District Office announced on Wednesday that it has relocated all nearby street vendors due to the insufficient waiting space for the queues in front of exit 3 and the crosswalk signals.

A shoe repair shop and a snack bar that previously occupied the sidewalk were moved as of Sunday, according to an official from the district office.

In the latter half of the year, the district plans to enhance the pedestrian environment by relocating the crosswalk in front of exit 3 and installing additional traffic lights.

Additionally, since July 11, the district office has deployed two safety personnel in front of exits 2 and 3 during weekday rush hours.

"Even before construction begins, the city government will work to manage crowds, enhance safety measures and regulate passenger flow to minimize any threats to subway users' safety," Oh said.