Seoul Subway Line 5 of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway, dubbed the purple line, is a long line crossing from west to the east across the Seoul National Capital Area, South Korea. It is one of two subway lines in Seoul to cross under the Han River (the other being the Suin-Bundang Line), which is done at two points (between Mapo and Yeouinaru, and also between Gwangnaru and Cheonho). The main line runs through to Hanam Geomdansan Station while the branch line from Gangdong Station terminates at Macheon Station. In 2019, Line 5 carried an annual ridership of 334 million or about 915,000 passengers per day.[2]

Line 5
4th Generation Line 5 train
Overview
Native name5호선(五號線)
O Hoseon
StatusOperational
Termini
Stations57
Service
TypeRapid transit
SystemSeoul Metropolitan Subway
Operator(s)Seoul Metro
History
Opened15 November 1995
Technical
Line length58.9 km (36.6 mi)[1]
Number of tracks2
Electrification1,500 V DC overhead catenary
Route map

The total length of this line is 58.9 kilometres (36.6 mi). Upon opening, it was among the longest underground railway tunnels of any kind constructed. Today it is the 8th longest continuous underground subway tunnel in the world, just behind Chengdu Metro Line 6, Qingdao Metro Line 1, Guangzhou Metro Line 18, Guangzhou Metro Line 3, Moscow Metro Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line, Beijing Subway Line 10 and Beijing Subway Line 6. Line 5 is also the first subway and passenger railway line in the Korean Peninsula to directly serve an airport, when the line was extended westward to Banghwa via Gimpo International Airport in 1996.

History

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The line was built 1990–1996 and is an important east–west link connecting Gimpo Airport, the Yeouido business area, downtown Seoul, and the Gangdong residential districts.

In 1996 Line 5 was implemented with Automatic train operation. However, it was deemed that a driver would be necessary in case of a breakdown of the automation system, therefore each subway train has one driver on board.

It was the world's longest underground railway line for 9 years until Guangzhou Metro Line 3 came into operation in 2005.

In December 2010 the line is recorded as having the third highest WiFi data consumption in the Seoul Metropolitan area. It averaged 1.67 times more than the other 14 subway lines fitted with WiFi service zones.[3]

The main branch of the line was extended to the city of Hanam with a total of 5 stations spanning 6.5 km. The extension opened in two stages; the first opened on August 8, 2020, and the other opened on March 27, 2021.[4][5]

Tourism

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In January 2013, the Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation, which operated the line at the time, published free guidebooks features eight tours as well as recommendations for accommodations, restaurants and shopping centers. These guidebooks were printed in three languages: English, Japanese and Chinese (simplified and traditional). They were distributed from information centers on this line.

The tours are designed with different themes for travel along the subway lines, e.g. Korean traditional culture. The destinations range from Jongno 3-ga Station to Anguk Station and Gyeongbokgung Station on line No 3 showcasing antique shops and art galleries of Insa-dong.[6]

In the summer of 2013, the Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation to display water parks that are located near stations operated by the Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation on the LCD display screens both inside the train, and on the station platforms.

Stations

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Main Line

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Station
Number
Station Name
English
Station Name
Hangul
Station Name
Hanja
Transfer Distance
in km
Total
Distance
Location
510
Banghwa 방화
---
0.0
511
Gaehwasan 개화산
0.9
0.9
512
Gimpo Int'l Airport 김포공항        
1.2
2.1
513
Songjeong 송정
1.2
3.3
514
Magok
(Home & Shopping)
마곡
(홈앤쇼핑)
1.1
4.4
515
Balsan 발산
1.2
5.6
516
Ujangsan 우장산
1.1
6.7
517
Hwagok 화곡
1.0
7.7
518
Kkachisan 까치산 까치   (Sinjeong branch)
1.2
8.9
519
Sinjeong
(Eunhaengjeong)
신정
(은행정)
1.3
10.2
520
Mok-dong 목동
0.8
11.0
521
Omokgyo
(Mokdong Stadium)
오목교
(목동운동장앞)
0.9
11.9
522
Yangpyeong 양평
1.1
13.0
523
Yeongdeungpo-gu Office 영등포구청  
0.8
13.8
524
Yeongdeungpo Market 영등포시장
0.9
14.7
525
Singil 신길  
1.1
15.8
526
Yeouido 여의도  
1.0
16.8
527
Yeouinaru 여의나루 나루
1.0
17.8
528
Mapo 마포
1.8
19.6
529
Gongdeok 공덕      
0.8
20.4
530
Aeogae 애오개 애오개
1.1
21.5
531
Chungjeongno
(Kyonggi Univ.)
충정로
(경기대입구)
 
0.9
22.4
532
Seodaemun
(Kangbuk Samsung Hospital)
서대문
(강북삼성병원)
西
0.7
23.1
533
Gwanghwamun
(Sejong Center for the Performing Arts)
광화문
(세종문화회관)
1.1
24.2
534
Jongno 3(sam)-ga
(Tapgol Park)
종로3가
(탑골공원)
3    
1.2
25.4
535
Euljiro 4(sa)-ga
(BC Card)
을지로4가
(BC카드)
4  
1.0
26.4
536
Dongdaemun History & Culture Park
(DDP)
동대문역사문화공원
(DDP)
   
0.9
27.3
537
Cheonggu 청구  
0.9
28.2
538
Singeumho 신금호
0.9
29.1
539
Haengdang 행당
0.8
29.9
540
Wangsimni
(Seongdong-gu Office)
왕십리
(성동구청)
     
0.9
30.8
541
Majang 마장
0.7
31.5
542
Dapsimni 답십리
1.0
32.5
543
Janghanpyeong 장한평
1.2
33.7
544
Gunja
(Neung-dong)
군자
(능동)
 
1.5
35.2
545
Achasan
(Rear Entrance to Seoul Children's Grand Park)
아차산
(어린이대공원후문)
1.0
36.2
546
Gwangnaru
(Presbyterian Univ. & Theological Seminary)
광나루
(장신대)
광나루
1.5
37.7
547
Cheonho
(Pungnaptoseong)
천호
(풍납토성)
 
2.0
39.7
548
Gangdong
(Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital)
강동
(강동성심병원)
  (for Macheon)
0.8
40.5
549
Gil-dong 길동
0.9
41.4
550
Gubeundari
(Gangdong Community Center)
굽은다리
(강동구민회관앞)
굽은다리
0.8
42.2
551
Myeongil 명일
0.7
42.9
552
Godeok
(Kyung Hee Univ. Hospital at Gangdong)
고덕
(강동경희대병원)
1.2
44.1
553
Sangil-dong 상일동
1.1
45.2
554 Gangil 강일
0.7
45.9
555 Misa 미사
1.7
47.6
Gyeonggi-do Hanam-si
556 Hanam Pungsan 하남풍산
2.1
49.7
557 Hanam City Hall
(Deokpung & Sinjang)
하남시청
(덕풍·신장)
1.3
51.0
558 Hanam Geomdansan 하남검단산
1.7
52.7

Macheon Branch

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Station
Number
Station Name
English
Station Name
Hangul
Station Name
Hanja
Transfer Distance
in km
Total
Distance
Location
548
Gangdong
(Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital)
강동
(강동성심병원)
  (for Hanam Geomdansan)
0.8
40.5
P549
Dunchon-dong 둔촌동
1.2
41.7
P550
Olympic Park
(Korea National Sport Univ.)
올림픽공원
(한국체대)
 
1.4
43.1
P551
Bangi 방이
0.9
44.0
P552
Ogeum 오금  
0.9
44.9
P553
Gaerong 개롱
0.9
45.8
P554
Geoyeo 거여
0.9
46.7
P555
Macheon 마천
0.9
47.6

Rolling stock

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Current

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Seoul Metro

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  • Seoul Metro 5000 series
    • 1st generation – since 1994 (Retired)
    • 2nd generation – since 1996
    • 3rd generation – since 2018
    • 4th generation – since 2021
    • (Future) 5th generation – since 2024
    • (Future) 6th generation – since 2026

See also

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References

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  1. ^ 지하철건설현황 [Status of Subway Construction] (in Korean). Seoul City Government. Retrieved 2014-02-22.
  2. ^ "서울시 지하철수송 통계". data.seoul.go.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2021-05-21.
  3. ^ "Seoul Subway Line No. 2 Becomes Major WiFi Hotspot". The Chosun Ilbo. 24 December 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  4. ^ Burroughs, David (10 August 2020). "First phase of Seoul's Hanam Line 5 extension opens". International Railway Journal. Simmons-Boardman Publishing Inc. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
  5. ^ 지하철 5호선 강일역 모레부터 운영…하남선 완전 개통 [Subway Line 5 Gangil Station will operate from the day after tomorrow... Complete opening of Hanam Line]. Hankyung (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  6. ^ Kwon, Sang-soo (26 January 2013). "Free guide for Seoul's subway riders". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)