Yongin Mayor Baek Goon-ki: "Gyeonggang Line Extension is Essential for the 4th National Railway Network Construction Plan"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Yongin Mayor Baek Goon-ki visited the National Assembly on the 27th and met with Transportation Committee Chair Jin Sun-mi to appeal for the inclusion of the Gyeonggang Line extension in the 4th National Railway Network Construction Plan, and delivered a jointly signed recommendation document with the mayors of Gwangju and Anseong.

Today's meeting was arranged to convey the opinions of local residents regarding the Gyeonggang Line extension, which was selected as an additional consideration project in the 4th National Railway Network Construction Plan in April, and Gwangju Mayor Shin Dong-hun, who shares the necessity of the Gyeonggang Line extension, joined the meeting.

At this meeting, Mayor Baek stated, "The Gyeonggang Line extension is essential for completing an efficient national railway network and achieving balanced development in the southeastern region of Gyeonggi Province," and appealed, "Please make every effort to ensure that the Gyeonggang Line extension is included in the national railway network construction plan, taking into account the wishes of 1.7 million citizens in Yongin, Gwangju, and Anseong."

Committee Chair Jin responded, "I deeply sympathize with the necessity of the Gyeonggang Line extension for the three cities and the opinions of local residents," and added, "I fully understand the recommendations from the three cities regarding the 4th National Railway Network Construction Plan."

The city anticipates that if the Gyeonggang Line is extended, it will increase Seoul accessibility for the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster, which will be developed on a scale of 1.26 million pyeong, and improve residential conditions as well.

In relation to this, the city has been recommending the Gyeonggang Line extension project to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport together with Gwangju and Anseong, and has been working to ensure the original plan is reflected. However, the project was selected as an additional consideration project rather than a new project, leaving room for disappointment.

To address this, the three cities reduced the burden of national project costs and submitted a revised plan to Gyeonggi Province that shortens the originally proposed route by 17 km, connecting from Samdeong in Gwangju to Namsa in Yongin, which can interchange with the 'Dongtan-Anseong-Cheongju Airport Line' to further improve economic viability.

Finally, Mayor Baek Goon-ki emphasized, "Until the 4th National Railway Network Construction Plan is confirmed and announced, the three cities and regional politicians will unite and visit relevant ministries such as the Ministry of Strategy and Finance and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to make every effort to ensure that the Gyeonggang Line extension is reflected in this national railway network construction plan."