Pyeongtaek City Announces Comprehensive Renovation Plan for Pyeongtaek Station Area

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Pyeongtaek City is moving forward with comprehensive renovation of the Pyeongtaek Station area to revitalize its stagnant original downtown district.

The city announced a "Master Plan for Pyeongtaek Station Area Renovation" through an online briefing on the 21st.

Pyeongtaek Mayor Jung Jang-sun stated at the opening remarks of the briefing, "Pyeongtaek Station is a historical site filled with citizens' affection. However, it has been deteriorating with slum-like conditions, and citizens have been concerned for a long time," and added, "We have decided to comprehensively renovate the Pyeongtaek Station area as we cannot leave it as is."

Following this, Park Young-chul, head of the Pyeongtaek Station Area Renovation Promotion Team, said, "The original downtown is experiencing accelerated decline due to population and commercial activity shifts centered on new cities," and stated, "We will develop measures to revitalize the original downtown for complementary and balanced development with Jije Station."

Pyeongtaek City plans to first develop the Pyeongtaek Station plaza into a complex cultural space to make it a landmark of Pyeongtaek. Additionally, the city will create a car-free street from in front of Pyeongtaek Station to Park Ae Hospital, and will advance the renovation of an arcade within the Pyeongtaek Station plaza by next year. The existing street parking area (80 spaces) will be replaced with 300 underground parking spaces.

The Wonpyeong-dong area will be developed as a residential and business hub, while introducing residential facilities for young people and other settlement facilities to promote regional balanced development. The city also plans to secure an economically active population in the region through various business support facilities.

Regarding the sex trade zone near Pyeongtaek Station, the city announced it will proceed with gradual development. First, the city will implement functional transformation projects with long-term goals including enacting ordinances to support victims of sexual exploitation and purchasing idle facilities. Through improved development conditions from these efforts, the city plans to induce voluntary participation from private developers.

Additionally, the city decided to relocate the dilapidated intercity bus terminal. The existing bus terminal site will be developed through consultation on alternative visitor facilities such as mixed-use commercial facilities and public contribution methods to establish a foundation for strengthening adjacent commercial areas.

For the Pyeongtaek Station area renovation, the city plans to listen to residents' opinions, establish governance, and draft a master plan in the second half of this year, and complete the master plan for Pyeongtaek Station area renovation in the first half of next year.

Director Park Young-chul explained, "The budget for plaza renovation is estimated at 90 billion won including the purchase of arcade buildings, and the city plans to secure these funds through municipal funds."