Gyeonggi Province, Suwon, Yongin, Seongnam, and Hwaseong Unite to Promote Seoul Line 3 Extension Project

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province is working with Suwon, Yongin, Seongnam, and Hwaseong cities to develop optimal alternatives for the Seoul Line 3 extension and Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railway projects so that commute times for 4 million residents in southern Gyeonggi can be reduced by one hour.

The Seoul Line 3 extension is expected to gain momentum through cooperative efforts that transcend political parties and regions.

On the 21st, Governor Kim Dong-yeon signed a business agreement at the Gyeonggi Province Government situation room with Suwon Special Mayor Lee Jae-jun, Yongin Special Mayor Lee Sang-il, Seongnam Mayor Shin Sang-jin, and Hwaseong Mayor Jung Myung-geun, and agreed to jointly respond to develop efficient alternatives for the Seoul Line 3 extension and Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railway.

Governor Kim Dong-yeon said, "Looking at the population of these four cities, it exceeds twice that of an average metropolitan city. I am very pleased that we can unite our efforts regarding the Line 3 subway and Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railway, which are important matters in transportation measures for these four cities. I have also made a promise to give back one hour per day to Gyeonggi residents. I believe today's agreement will play an important role in keeping that promise."

He continued, "Working together, we will handle this promptly, and so that not only 4 million residents but all 14 million Gyeonggi residents can use it and Gyeonggi can develop, I will lead the way in uniting our will beyond party lines and regions. Let me take the lead in consulting with all parties, finding solutions, and working hard with central government ministries. I ask that we come together with mutual benefit and cooperative governance to strengthen Gyeonggi Province."

Suwon Special Mayor Lee Jae-jun said, "Metropolitan railways take a long time to initiate, but if Gyeonggi Province and the four local governments reach good agreements and begin practical research and discussions, I believe construction and completion are possible within a short timeframe."

Yongin Special Mayor Lee Sang-il said, "There are many tasks ahead, but if we implement them with the spirit of today's agreement ceremony in mind, I believe we will achieve good results."

Seongnam Mayor Shin Sang-jin expressed expectations, saying, "I hope we unite firmly to ensure the Line 3 extension is included in the Fifth National Railway Construction Plan. If the Line 3 extension is realized, it will be able to solve Seongnam's advanced industry issues and Pangyo traffic congestion problems."

Hwaseong Mayor Jung Myung-geun said, "Currently, Hwaseong city has only Byeongjeom Station as a railroad station, so the inconvenience faced by residents commuting to Seoul or adjacent cities is significant. I hope this can be promoted in a timely manner, and Hwaseong will do its utmost to play its role."

Under the agreement, Gyeonggi Province and the four cities will ▲jointly respond to administrative procedures under relevant laws to successfully promote the Seoul Line 3 extension and Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railway projects ▲cooperate mutually to establish business plans by maximizing citizen input to ensure fair and balanced projects ▲make efforts to develop optimal routing plans for the railway project and reflect them in the Fifth National Railway Construction Plan and other higher-level plans ▲establish a working-level coordination body for efficient promotion of cooperation matters.

The Seoul Line 3 extension and Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railway mentioned in the agreement refer to railway projects connecting Seoul with the eastern and southern regions of Gyeonggi Province, including Seongnam, Yongin, Suwon, and Hwaseong cities.

The Seoul Line 3 extension involves extending the line from Daehwa Station in Goyang to Ogeum Station in Songpa-gu, Seoul, through Seongnam and extending it to Yongin, Suwon, and Hwaseong areas. The province and four cities plan to expedite preliminary feasibility studies to achieve the agreement's objectives early and ensure the Line 3 extension is reflected in the Fifth National Railway Construction Plan. They also plan to continue consulting with Seoul regarding pending matters such as the relocation of the Seoser Vehicle Depot.

The province estimates that if the Seoul Line 3 extension is realized, the commute from Seoul for 4 million residents living in Seongnam, Yongin, Suwon, and Hwaseong will be reduced by approximately one hour.

The Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railway is a metropolitan railway that will be pursued as an alternative if the Line 3 extension proves difficult, connecting Seoul's Gangnam area with Seongnam, Yongin, Suwon, and Hwaseong cities. No specific plans have been released yet.

Previously, the province signed a mutual cooperation agreement related to the Seoul Line 3 extension with Suwon, Yongin, and Seongnam cities in February 2020, and launched a joint project in August of that year. In July 2021, the province requested consultation with Seoul on measures to disperse the relocation of the Seoser Vehicle Depot. Additionally, in the "Gyeonggi Province Railway Basic Plan and Urban Railway Network Construction Plan Research Project" initiated in September 2021 and ongoing, the province is reviewing the feasibility of the "Seoul Line 3 Extension and Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railway" projects proposed by basic local governments.

Meanwhile, the province decided last year to implement the semi-public operation system across all city bus routes in the province after gathering input from bus industry labor and management, and is working to solve transportation issues through measures such as increasing metropolitan bus operations, extending late-night services, and commissioning a GTX Plus basic concept research project.