Gyeonggi Transport Corporation Launch 'Confirmed' as Key Pledge of Locally-Elected 7th Term

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun Reporter] The establishment plan for 'Gyeonggi Transport Corporation,' a core policy pledge of Gyeonggi Province's transport policy for the locally-elected 7th term, passed the 'Gyeonggi Province Public Enterprise Establishment Deliberation Committee' held on the 8th. With this, the administrative procedures for establishing the corporation have entered the final phase, making it possible to launch within the year.

This deliberation committee is a process conducted in accordance with the 'Local Public Enterprise Act,' whereby relevant public officials and external experts convene to meticulously review appropriateness, feasibility, sufficiency, profitability, and ripple effects, ultimately making a comprehensive judgment on whether to establish the transport corporation.

According to the establishment plan, the total capital is 18.5 billion won, with the province providing full investment. The investment is planned to be reflected in this year's supplementary budget after review by the provincial assembly.

The establishment type is 'local public corporation,' following the examples of transport corporations in other metropolitan areas such as Seoul, Incheon, and Busan. The organizational structure consists of 1 headquarters and 5 departments (Management Support Department, Bus Operation Center, Semi-Public Operation Department, Transportation Facilities Department, Railroad Operation Department), with a total workforce of 88 personnel (including bus drivers).

Previously, the province successfully passed the feasibility verification by the Local Public Enterprise Evaluation Institute in February, a legal procedure for establishing a public enterprise, and formulated the Gyeonggi Transport Corporation establishment plan.

In April, the province held 'online and offline combined public hearings' to gather opinions from experts, residents, and various sectors regarding the timing and scale of establishment. In May, the province conducted preliminary consultations with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to secure final establishment approval.

The province plans to complete procedures including ordinance enactment, charter preparation, executive recruitment and appointment, and establishment registration to launch the corporation in the second half of this year. To this end, the province has submitted the corporation establishment and operation ordinance and prior investment plan consent bill as agenda items to the 344th Regular Session of the Provincial Assembly in June. Simultaneously, the province is conducting a contest for selecting the location of the main office. Particularly in the interest of balanced development, 17 cities and counties in the northern region and natural conservation zones are targeted.

'Gyeonggi Transport Corporation' is a dedicated transportation organization that manages the public transportation systems of cities and counties throughout the province—which have diverse characteristics such as urban and rural-urban complex areas—in an integrated and metropolitan manner. The corporation is being promoted to enhance the public nature and efficiency of public transportation services.

In the initial phase of the corporation's launch, the province will focus on organizational stabilization and will gradually expand its business scope centered on four strategic priorities: ①operating demand-tailored bus services ②operating Gyeonggi Province public bus system through route bidding ③managing railroad operations ④constructing and operating transfer facilities.

In particular, through development and operation of various new transportation businesses, the corporation is expected to generate significant economic ripple effects: 132.3 billion won in production-inducing effect, 51.6 billion won in value-added effect, and 1,047 jobs in employment creation over the next five years.

Yu Jeong-hun, Ajou University Professor and chair of the deliberation committee, said, "We actively welcome the establishment of Gyeonggi Transport Corporation given that it is the nation's first metropolitan-level public transportation control tower," adding, "Going forward, we hope the corporation will faithfully fulfill its role in line with its purpose of strengthening public nature."

A provincial official stated, "Gyeonggi Transport Corporation will be the cornerstone for realizing the locally-elected 7th term's transportation policy goal of 'Gyeonggi where public transportation is more convenient than private vehicles,' and we will do our utmost to implement transportation policies that residents can tangibly experience, such as solving metropolitan traffic congestion."