Suwon City's East-West Balanced Development Becoming Visible

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Suwon City's east-west balanced development is becoming increasingly visible.

The western Suwon area, which had developed more slowly compared to eastern Suwon, is laying its foundation through the complete opening of the Suin Line and the opening of a general hospital.

In early September, commuters from Gosaeok-dong and Omokcheon-dong in Suwon took 15-20 minutes by city bus to reach Suwon Station. However, after the Suin-Bundang Line began operations on the 12th of last month, the same distance can be covered in just 3-6 minutes.

With the opening of the third phase of the Suin double-track railway, the Suwon-Handae section (19.9km), the entire section from Suwon Station to Incheon Station (52.8km) has been connected. The Suwon section spans 5.35km and includes Gosaeok and Omokcheon stations.

With the entire Suin Line connected and the Suin Line linking to the Bundang Line, residents of western Suwon can now use Gosaeok and Omokcheon stations to take the subway and travel without transfers to Incheon, Ansan, Yongin, Seongnam, and Seoul.

The opening of the Suin-Bundang Line has significantly improved the public transportation environment for western Suwon residents.

Additionally, the 'Shinbundang Line extension project from Gwanggyo to Homaesilˆ that passed the preliminary feasibility study by the Ministry of Strategy and Finance in January is expected to be promoted soon.

The Shinbundang Line extension project involves extending a 9.7km section connecting Gwanggyo to Homaesilˆ When the Shinbundang Line extension opens, it will be possible to reach Gangnam from Homaesilˆ in 47 minutes. This is roughly half of the current 100 minutes by intercity bus.

Along with railway network expansion, resident convenience facilities are steadily increasing. In particular, 'general hospital construction,' a long-standing wish of western Suwon residents, is now within reach.

The 'Western Suwon General Hospital,' to be built on the site of 894-27, Gosaeok-dong, Gwonseon-gu (across from Suwon Western Police Station) with a total floor area of 93,770 square meters, 4 stories below ground and 10 stories above ground, and a capacity of 636 beds, aims for opening in March 2024 and will begin phase 1 construction (417 beds) around May of next year. Phase 2 construction (219 beds) is scheduled to be completed by March 2027.

When this hospital opens, it will become the third largest general hospital in Suwon by number of beds, following Ajou University Hospital (1,172 beds) and Catholic University Saint Vincent's Hospital (888 beds).

Western Suwon residents have experienced significant inconvenience due to the lack of a nearby general hospital.

Mayor Yeom Tae-young set the 'western Suwon general hospital attraction project' as one of 100 key promises for his sixth elected term and actively worked to attract it. In March 2018, Suwon City and Deoksan Medical Foundation signed a 'memorandum of understanding for establishing a general hospital in the western Suwon area,' marking the beginning of the project.

When the Western Suwon General Hospital opens, residents of western Suwon will be able to receive high-quality medical services close to their homes. It is also expected to help create quality jobs and revitalize the local economy.

Space for residents continues to expand. The Gosaeok-dong and Omokcheon-dong areas of the Suwon section of the Suin-Bundang Line were originally planned as an elevated line. However, following residents' concerns about regional division due to the railway, environmental and noise issues, the project was changed to 'underground' in 2013.

The upper area created by the underground construction will be reborn as a space for residents, including walking paths. Suwon City and the Korea Railroad Facility Corporation signed a 'memorandum of consignment agreement for resident convenience facility installation project on the upper section of the Suin Line in Suwon City' in December of last year.

Suwon City plans to create an eco-friendly rest space of approximately 3.5km in a linear form above the Suwon section of the Suin Line, including walking paths, bicycle lanes, fine dust barrier urban forests, and a 'participation garden' cultivated by citizens. The upper space of the Suin Line is expected to become a place of rest and a landmark of Suwon for citizens.

The 'Deutsch Auto World' (Gosaeok-dong), Korea's largest scale automotive complex trading center that began construction in 2016 and started operations in February this year, is being developed not merely as a place to buy and sell vehicles, but as an 'automobile complex cultural space' where citizens can enjoy culture and leisure. Various cultural and convenience facilities for residents to use will be built.

A Suwon City official said, "The expansion of railway networks and the construction of a general hospital will be a major force in the development of western Suwon," and added, "We will continue to make efforts so that all areas of Suwon City can develop in a balanced manner."