Uiwang City Council Urges Resolution on Gyeonggi Province Private Road Toll Increase
Councilmember Kim Tae-heung of Uiwang City Council on the 8th urged the establishment of active countermeasures by Uiwang City regarding the toll increase on the Seo-Suwon~Uiwang Expressway.
Councilmember Kim made the remarks during the 5-minute free speech session at the 1st general meeting of the 322nd extraordinary session of Uiwang City Council held that day.
Councilmember Kim pointed out that this is "a re-increase in just 2 years following 2024" and stated, "The selective toll hike on cargo vehicles will lead to increased transportation costs for construction materials within Uiwang City, where redevelopment and reconstruction projects are frequent, and increased logistics costs for businesses and small merchants, which could ultimately result in increased burden on citizens and rising local prices."
On August 20, Gyeonggi Province submitted to the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly an agenda regarding "opinion hearing by the provincial assembly on private road toll increases" containing a toll increase plan. If the agenda is approved, the toll for Class 4 and Class 5 large cargo vehicles will increase by 100 won from the existing 1,300 won to 1,400 won, and will be applied starting October 1.
Subsequently, Councilmember Kim urged Mayor Kim Seong-je to actively implement the campaign promise made during the 2022 election of "promoting free toll passage at Uiwang Toll Plaza for Uiwang citizens." Councilmember Kim emphasized, "For the 1.6 million Uiwang citizens who trusted and chose the promise, concrete implementation systems such as organizing a task force directly under the mayor must be prepared immediately."
In particular, Councilmember Kim cited the example of Gimpo City, which supports 50% of toll fees during weekday rush hours through its own ordinance, and proposed that Uiwang City also promptly review the "Uiwang City Seo-Suwon~Uiwang Expressway Toll Support Ordinance" and implement phased measures such as providing toll support during commute hours.
Councilmember Kim urged, "The subjects who will bear the continuously increasing tolls are Uiwang citizens, and this is a matter concerning basic transportation rights. Uiwang City must make a decisive move to reduce the burden on Uiwang citizens."
천의현 대표이사 euihyun@suwonilbo.kr