'Youngjong-Ganghwa Peace Road Construction Project' Conversion to Government-Funded Project Requested

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Choi Ki-ho] County magistrates and district heads in the Incheon region have collectively and strongly requested that the 'Youngjong-Ganghwa Peace Road Construction Project' be converted into a government-funded project.

The Incheon County Magistrates and District Heads Council held a meeting on the 14th at the Bupyeong District Office, asserting that Phase 2 of the 'Youngjong-Ganghwa Peace Road Construction Project,' which is planned as a private investment project, should also be converted into a government-funded project.

The 'Youngjong-Ganghwa Peace Road Construction Project' is a campaign pledge of the 20th president aimed at improving residential conditions and guaranteeing mobility rights for residents in border areas. Phase 1, the Youngjong-Sindо Road Construction Project (3.2 km, 141.9 billion won budget), broke ground last year and is scheduled to open in 2025. This has gained momentum as Phase 1 was promoted as a government-funded project in 2019 and was included in projects exempt from preliminary feasibility review.

In contrast, Phase 2, the Sindо-Ganghwa Road Construction Project (11.4 km, 350 billion won budget), is planned as a private investment project and currently lacks economic viability.

At the meeting on that day, emphasis was placed on the fact that the Youngjong-Ganghwa Peace Road directly connects Ganghwa Island and the Incheon city center without passing through Gimpo, creating a single living sphere, and is a key inter-Korean exchange infrastructure project that will eventually connect with North Korea's Kaesong and Haeju. There was consensus that project conversion into a government project should take place.

The council also stressed that Ganghwa County is a depopulating area with no jobs due to the lack of amenities, emphasizing that policy consideration and active support from the central government and Incheon City are necessary for the 'Youngjong-Ganghwa Peace Road Construction Project.'

Ganghwa County Magistrate Yu Chun-ho stated, "Ganghwa County has delayed infrastructure development, poor accessibility compared to urban areas such as Seoul and Incheon, and is a depopulating area with no jobs due to the lack of living amenities. Phase 2 of the Youngjong-Ganghwa Peace Road should be converted to a government-funded project and included in projects exempt from preliminary feasibility review, so we can keep our promise to the people and proactively respond in the era of inter-Korean cooperation," he said.