Yongin City to Connect Entire Region with Expressways and Motorways

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Choi Ki-ho] Yongin Special City is expected to be densely connected by new expressways and motorways.

The city has established an 'L-shaped 3-axis road network plan' and requested the government's active support for expedited implementation of 3 private-sector expressway projects reflected in this plan from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, it announced on the 31st.

This reflects the city's plan to substantially expand various road networks in Yongin to support the development of industries critical to the nation's future competitiveness such as semiconductors and to enhance the city's competitive advantage amid rapid growth.

The 'L-shaped 3-axis road network plan' established by the city aims to smoothly connect the southern region of Cheoin-gu, where mega-scale semiconductor production lines and materials, parts, equipment, and design companies will concentrate, with various areas of Yongin where existing semiconductor production lines and Platform City will be located, to Seoul, Seongnam, and Pangyo.

On the 29th, Mayor Lee Sang-il sent a letter to Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Park Sang-woo requesting that the government promptly review and implement the previously announced Semiconductor Expressway (Hwaseong-Anseong private-sector expressway), Yongin-Seongnam private-sector expressway, and Uiwang-Gwangju private-sector expressway to realize the city's plan. The city also sent a public notice with the same content to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

The mayor said, "In order for Yongin to complete large-scale projects such as the semiconductor national industrial complex and develop into a core city of the Republic of Korea's semiconductor industry, it is essential to construct road networks connecting various parts of the city," requesting the government's support for the 3 private-sector expressway projects to proceed smoothly.

The mayor emphasized, "If private-sector expressway projects passing through Yongin that are currently proposed to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport—including the Semiconductor Expressway, Yongin-Seongnam private-sector expressway, and Uiwang-Gwangju private-sector expressway—are implemented smoothly, Yongin's semiconductor ecosystem and competitiveness will be further strengthened."

Currently underway in Cheoin-gu are the 'Yongin Advanced System Semiconductor National Industrial Complex' where Samsung Electronics is investing 36 trillion won to construct 6 Fabs (semiconductor manufacturing lines), the 'Yongin Semiconductor Cluster' where SK Hynix is investing 12.2 trillion won to build 4 Fabs, and the 'Idong Public Housing District' with 16,000 units of a new city where semiconductor-related talent will reside. In Giheung-gu, there is Samsung Electronics' Future Research Complex (Giheung Campus) with over 20 trillion won in investment and Platform City spanning 830,000 pyeong will be developed.

Mayor Lee Sang-il said, "The L-shaped 3-axis road network will organically connect these areas forming an L-shaped semiconductor belt and will play a major role in forming a mega-scale semiconductor ecosystem where advanced companies and IT talent gather."

The mayor said, "The expressways and motorways composed of 3 L-shapes will greatly facilitate traffic flow between Giheung-gu and Cheoin-gu, and will make it possible to travel to and from Gangnam, Seoul and Pangyo in approximately 30-40 minutes."

The city has planned the 'L-shaped 3-axis road network' as the Semiconductor Expressway axis (L1) and two Semiconductor Inland Road axes (L2, L3) and 8 individual routes connecting these 3 axes.

The Semiconductor Expressway axis (L1) is planned with the newly constructed Gyeongbu Underground Expressway and the Semiconductor Expressway (Hwaseong-Anseong private-sector expressway). Of the two Semiconductor Inland Road axes, the L2 axis is composed of the new Local Road 23 to be put underground and the National Route 42 alternative bypass. The L3 axis is planned to extend the Yangji-Pogok private-sector road confirmed in 2008 to Seongnam to enhance accessibility to Gangnam, Seoul.

The city plans to three-dimensionally connect National Route 43 and National Route 45, which are currently being used as motorways, as well as Local Road 321 and Local Road 82 to be additionally expanded, existing roads, and access roads to the L-shaped 3-axis road network organically.

When the 'L-shaped road network plan' is realized, it is expected to organically connect Giheung-gu and the southeastern region of Cheoin-gu where anchor companies such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix and semiconductor parts and materials companies are concentrated, while dispersing traffic volume across the 3 expressway and motorway axes to proactively respond to expected increased traffic demand in the future.

The government previously announced on the 25th at a civil livelihood discussion forum that it would expedite the Semiconductor Expressway proposed as a private-sector project and expand National Route 45 and maintain existing road networks to accommodate increased traffic demand resulting from industrial complex occupancy.

Meanwhile, the city is investing 168.8 billion won in city budget last year and 143.4 billion won this year in expanding road networks in Cheoin-gu where large-scale projects such as the Advanced System Semiconductor National Complex and Yongin Semiconductor Cluster are underway.