Suwon, Yongin, Seongnam, and Gyeonggi Province Join Hands to Extend Seoul Line 3

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Suwon City has joined hands with Yongin City, Seongnam City, and Gyeonggi Province to extend the Seoul Metro Line 3 to the southeastern Gyeonggi region, including Suwon.

Suwon City, Gyeonggi Province, Yongin City, and Seongnam City signed a "Mutually Beneficial Agreement for Proactive Response and Effective Alternative Development Related to Seoul Metro Line 3 Extension" at 4 p.m. on the 14th at the Gyeonggi Province Government Emergency Situation Room.

The signing ceremony was attended by Yeom Tae-young, Mayor of Suwon, Park Kun-ki, Mayor of Yongin, Eun Su-mi, Mayor of Seongnam, and Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, who shared understanding of the agreement's rationale and expressed their commitment to strengthening future joint response.

The agreement was made to proactively respond jointly to the Line 3 extension project linked to Seoul City's relocation of the Suseo depot.

Last December, Seoul City commissioned a "Preliminary Feasibility Study on Suseo Depot Relocation and Site Utilization Plans" and decided to conduct the project, which includes expanding Line 3 into the southeastern Gyeonggi region, through the end of this year.

In response, the three cities of Suwon and Gyeonggi Province have pursued the agreement to discover local government-centered routes, provide stable railway services, and alleviate traffic congestion in areas around the Yongin-Seoul Expressway.

The essence of this agreement is for the three cities of Suwon and Gyeonggi Province to jointly find the optimal way to extend Seoul Metro Line 3 through Seongnam and Yongin to Suwon.

The agreement also includes strengthening administrative cooperation support systems by establishing working-level committees based on mutual trust.

When necessary, a joint cooperation system will be built to reach agreements on all matters through the working-level committee.

Yeom Tae-young, Mayor of Suwon, said, "For the Seoul Metro Line 3 extension to Suwon to become reality, there are many challenges to overcome, including project feasibility, depot site, and coordination with Seoul City. I hope that the three neighboring cities will pool their wisdom through a process of concern and communication, achieve good results, and become more closely connected."