Governor Lee Jae-myung Says "Will Promptly Advance Pyeongtak-Bubal Line for Balanced Regional Development"

[Suwon Ilbo=Kim A-hyun Reporter] Gyeonggi Province and the cities of Yongin, Pyeongtak, Icheon, and Anseong signed a memorandum of understanding on the afternoon of the 27th at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Situation Room to make joint efforts for early promotion of the Pyeongtak-Bubal railway construction project.

The agreement ceremony was attended by Governor Lee Jae-myung, Mayor Baek Gun-gi of Yongin, Mayor Jung Jang-seon of Pyeongtak, Mayor Eom Tae-jun of Icheon, and Mayor Woo Seok-je of Anseong.

The memorandum includes: ▲active cooperation to ensure that each city's development plans are reflected in the preliminary feasibility study currently being conducted by the Korea Railroad Facility Corporation ▲active cooperation on all matters including administrative support through the formation of a working committee for smooth project implementation and joint recommendations to related agencies ▲joint promotion of research services for preliminary feasibility study response for the Pyeongtak-Bubal Line railway construction project.

The Pyeongtak-Bubal Line is a railway construction project with a total length of 53.8 km connecting Pyeongtak, Anseong, and Icheon (Bubal), which was reflected in the Third National Railroad Network Construction Plan (June 2016); however, project implementation has been significantly delayed as it was not selected as a subject for preliminary feasibility study.

Upon completion of construction, it will connect four cities—Pyeongtak, Anseong, Yongin, and Icheon. To the east, it will connect to Gangneung through the Yeoju-Wonju Line, and to the west, it will link to Pyeongtak Port through the Poseung-Pyeongtak Line, forming an important east-west trunk railway axis. The Korea Railroad Facility Corporation is currently conducting a preliminary feasibility study on the project.

Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Province plans to submit a joint recommendation letter with the relevant cities to related agencies so that the Pyeongtak-Bubal Line railway construction project can be promoted at an early stage. Going forward, the Province plans to consult with each city and promote joint research services to respond to the efficient and substantive implementation of the project and preliminary feasibility studies.

Governor Lee Jae-myung stated, "Currently, Gyeonggi Province has developed somewhat unevenly between east and west, and between north and south. In that sense, I believe this Pyeongtak-Bubal Line project has deep significance in that Gyeonggi Province achieves balanced development," and added, "I will support it from the perspective of a fair opportunity for balanced development. I will proceed while respecting the positions of each city to the maximum extent."