Lee Sang-il Meets Vice Minister Baek Won-guk to Request Improvements to Yongin's Railways, Roads, and Public Transportation

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Choi Ki-ho] Mayor Lee Sang-il of Yongin Special City met on the afternoon of the 5th with Vice Minister Baek Won-guk of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to explain plans for improving Yongin's railways, roads, and public transportation, and requested assistance from the ministry.

The mayor presented concrete plans for expanding transportation networks to successfully develop the "Yongin Advanced System Semiconductor Cluster National Industrial Complex" and improve the quality of life for citizens. Vice Minister Baek agreed with the fact that Yongin is the center of South Korea's semiconductor industry and responded that he would carefully review the matters the mayor requested.

The eight projects Mayor Lee requested on this day are: △Reflection of the Gyeonggang Line extension project (from Gwangju Station in Gyeonggi to Idong and Namsa in Yongin) in the 5th National Railroad Construction Plan as a regular railway project △Reflection of the Gyeonggi Southern Mega Rail project (Jamsil Sports Complex-Seoser-Seongnam-Yongin Suji-Suwon Gwanggyo-Hwaseong Bongdam) in the 5th National Railroad Construction Plan △Designation of Giseong Station as an "SRT Emergency Rescue Station" △Approval of the Dongbaek-Shinbong Line project and Yongin Line extension project (Giheung Station-Gwanggyo Central Station) in the 2nd Gyeonggi Province Urban Railroad Network Plan △Rapid advancement of the Bundang Line extension project (Giheung Station-Osan University Station) △Selection of Yongin as a new business for the semi-public operation system of wide-area buses △Expedited pursuit of expressway private investment projects △Reflection of major routes in the 6th National and Regional Highway Construction Plan.

The "Gyeonggang Line extension" is viewed by the city as a core railway axis for the semiconductor industry that can directly connect the "Yongin Idong and Namsa Advanced System Semiconductor National Industrial Complex" and the specialized semiconductor new city in Idong-eup, and will be an important route in establishing a railway belt connecting Seoul, the capital region, and the Chungcheong region.

The "Gyeonggi Southern Mega Rail" is a railroad line that can connect the southern Gyeonggi region and is evaluated as a fundamental measure for regional transportation improvement that can resolve congestion on the Yongseo Expressway. Yongin Special City held an interim report meeting for the Gyeonggi Southern Mega Rail project together with Gyeonggi Province, Suwon, Seongnam, and Hwaseong cities, and on May 10th, mayors from the four cities, including Mayor Lee Sang-il, pledged to make joint efforts to reflect this project in the "5th National Railroad Construction Plan."

The mayor stated that designation of Giseong Station as an "SRT emergency rescue station" is also necessary, saying: "The Yulhyeon Tunnel connecting the SRT Seoser Station and Pyeongtaek Jije Station section is extremely long at 50.3km, but there is no emergency rescue station there. The National Railroad Corporation states there are 16 vertical shafts for emergency evacuation and will install 3 more, but there is a problem in that elderly and infirm people have difficulty evacuating quickly, so please carefully review ways to install an emergency rescue platform at Giseong Station, the midpoint station of the Yulhyeon Tunnel."

The mayor stated that Giseong Station, being the midpoint between Seoser and Dongtan, has optimal location conditions as an emergency rescue station since Yongin Severance Hospital, Ajou University Hospital, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, and Catholic University Hospital are nearby.

The mayor also requested approval of the new Dongbaek-Shinbong Line and Yongin Line (Giheung Station-Gwanggyo Central Station) extension project listed in the "2nd Gyeonggi Province Urban Railroad Network" plan.

The city has submitted proposals since October 2021 for these routes to be reflected in the Gyeonggi Province urban railroad network construction plan and has been making comprehensive efforts to ensure the routes are approved. The new Dongbaek-Shinbong Line and Yongin Line extension are expected to enhance citizens' transportation convenience by being linked with "GTX-A," "Shinbundang Line," "Bundang Line," and "Dongtan-Indeokwon Line."

The mayor also emphasized rapid advancement of the Bundang Line extension project connecting Giheung Station with Dongtan 2 New City and Osan University Station. The Bundang Line extension project, confirmed and announced as a new project in the "4th National Railroad Construction Plan" in 2021, is currently being carried out by the National Railroad Corporation. However, the feasibility study period has been extended due to increased project costs from rising prices.

The mayor explained: "To resolve chronic congestion in the southern part of Giheung-gu and near tourist facilities such as Korean Folk Village, the Bundang Line extension must be promoted quickly." Vice Minister Baek responded that they are additionally exploring ways to increase project viability for the Bundang Line extension.

The mayor also proposed the selection of Yongin as a new business for the semi-public operation system of wide-area buses for citizens commuting to Seoul.

To resolve inconvenience in using wide-area buses due to large-scale apartment complex move-ins and full capacity of existing routes, and to create a comfortable commuting environment to northern Seoul for residents, the mayor explained that five total routes should be included in the Metropolitan Area Mega Transportation Committee's semi-public operation of wide-area buses: the previously rejected routes with starting points at △Yangji District, △Kangnam University, and △Seocheon District, and this year's new routes with starting points at △Dankook University and △Jigok-dong.

The mayor proposed "expedited advancement of expressway private investment projects" as a means to resolve increased traffic demand from large-scale development projects in Yongin and chronic congestion on major routes including the Gyeongbu Expressway, Yeongdong Expressway, and National Highway 17.

The mayor emphasized the necessity of road expansion to strengthen national semiconductor industry capabilities and secure industrial competitiveness, and delivered plans for expressway private investment projects.

Additionally, the mayor also conveyed the opinion to reflect major routes in the "6th National and Regional Highway Construction Plan."

The requested routes are: △National Highway 45 (Idong-Namdong) expansion △National Highway Alternative Bypass Road (Namdong-Yangji) new construction △National Regional Highway 57 (Wonsam-Mapyeong) expansion △National Regional Highway 84 (Idong-Wonsam) new construction △National Regional Highway 82 (Idong Songjeon-Myobong) expansion △National Regional Highway 84 (Yongin-Icheon) new construction.

The relevant routes are recognized as major roads that can connect the "Yongin Idong and Namsa Advanced System Semiconductor Cluster National Industrial Complex" and the "Yongin Semiconductor Cluster General Industrial Complex," and can resolve traffic congestion.

The mayor asked the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to ensure that major routes proposed by Yongin are reflected in the "6th National and Regional Highway 5-Year Construction Plan" currently being established.

The mayor stated: "Yongin surpassed a population of 1.1 million this year, and as new apartment complexes in Cheoin-gu begin to move in, Yongin's population is expected to exceed 1.12 million by the end of this year," and emphasized, "As the number of workers invested in the 'Yongin Advanced System Semiconductor Cluster National Industrial Complex' and 'Yongin Semiconductor Cluster' continues to increase, and as these two large-scale projects progress, semiconductor-related companies will move in in large numbers and population will continue to grow, so we must proactively expand transportation networks."

The mayor stated: "President Yoon Suk-yeol, who held a livelihood debate at Yongin Special City Hall on March 25, emphasized the successful development of the Advanced System Semiconductor National Industrial Complex and said he would expand Yongin's transportation networks including Gyeonggang Line extension, National Highway 45 expansion, and semiconductor expressway construction, so special attention and support from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport are necessary."

Vice Minister Baek Won-guk of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport stated: "Since Yongin is a key region in the semiconductor industry, we will carefully review the contents proposed by Yongin Special City."