Uiwang City Holds Public Hearing on Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment for GTX-C Construction Project

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Uiwang City held a public hearing on the Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment (Draft) for the Capital Metropolitan Area Express Railway C Line (GTX-C) construction project being promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on the 17th at the City Hall Conference Room.

The public hearing, held under the auspices of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, was attended by approximately 150 people, including Mayor Kim Sang-don, National Assembly Member Lee So-young, City Council Chair Yoon Mi-kyung and city councilmembers, members of civic organizations, and local business figures.

Under the direction of Professor Kim Dong-wook from Kongju National University, officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, four experts in environmental and design sectors, and five resident representatives from Uiwang City participated as panelists to discuss the GTX-C construction project's Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment.

Five panelists, including City Councilmember Yoon Mi-geun and Kim Jin-pil, Director of the Sustainable Development Council Secretariat, spoke in unison, stating "As the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport carries out public housing development near Uiwang Station for residential stability of ordinary citizens, measures to address traffic congestion are needed as the GTX stoppage at Uiwang Station is not being reviewed as a measure for metropolitan transportation improvement," and strongly urged the GTX to stop at Uiwang Station.

A session was also provided to hear opinions from attending residents. Citizens unanimously expressed hope that the GTX stoppage at Uiwang Station would be reflected in the Basic Plan scheduled to be announced in September.

Park Jeong-ran, an official from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, who heard the citizens' opinions, stated, "We will ensure that your opinions are sufficiently reviewed in the process of establishing the Basic Plan in September."

Mayor Kim Sang-don said, "Since today's public hearing is a precious occasion arranged at the request of many Uiwang City residents, many citizens participated to address the region's major challenge of having the GTX-C route stop at Uiwang Station. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport should not ignore the greater national interest of the project's original purpose—transportation welfare for ordinary citizens and securing business viability—and should ensure that the stoppage at Uiwang Station is reflected in the GTX-C route plan for the future development of the area near Uiwang Station."