Hanam City Hosts Expert Forum on Wirye-Sinsa Line Extension to Hanam

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Eom In-yong] Hanam City held an 'Expert Forum on Wirye-Sinsa Line Extension to Hanam' on the 28th at the Wirye Hall on the 3rd floor of Wirye Library, bringing together rail experts and Wirye residents to explore the necessity and implementation strategy for the Wirye-Sinsa Line extension to Hanam from multiple angles.

In his opening remarks, Hanam City Mayor Lee Hyun-jae stated, "Hanam residents of Wirye New City have borne the burden of regional transportation measures despite being excluded from rail benefits, making the 'Wirye-Sinsa Line extension to Hanam' absolutely necessary. When extended to Hanam, it will facilitate Seoul residents' access to Namhansanseong, allowing them to also enjoy transportation welfare and benefits," he said.

He further emphasized the necessity of the 'Wirye-Sinsa Line extension to Hanam' as a regional transportation measure from the Seoul-Hanam METRO Seoul metropolitan area perspective, which is a shared living sphere.

The forum was chaired by Professor Kim Si-gon of Seoul National University of Science and Technology, former president of the Korea Transportation Association, with rail experts Professor Kim Dong-sun of Daejin University, Professor Lee Seung-jae of Seoul City University, Jo Eung-rae, visiting researcher at Seoul National University (former vice president of Gyeonggi Research Institute), and Jang Young-soo, advisory member of the Korean Private Investment Association (former director of the Metropolitan Urban Railway Division at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport) serving as panelists, engaging in heated discussions on the necessity of promoting the 'Wirye-Sinsa Line extension to Hanam'.

Experts emphasized that for reflecting the 'Wirye-Sinsa Line extension to Hanam' in the upper-tier rail network plan, it is important to develop technical logic to persuade policy makers (improving economic feasibility) and analyze the effects of the project. They also stressed the importance of reviewing implementation methods (metropolitan rail) in consideration of Hanam City's finances, communication with Seoul City, which is promoting the Wirye-Sinsa main line, and that attracting a rail line requires three elements: 'local government will (logic)', 'support from local political circles', and 'active demands from residents'.

Kim Kwang-seok, president of Wirye New City Citizens Alliance, argued, "One Wirye-Sinsa Line station is insufficient given the scale of Wirye New City. Since Hanam residents of Wirye New City have borne the same regional transportation measure fees, efforts by the central government, Seoul City, and Hanam City are absolutely necessary for the 'Wirye-Sinsa Line extension to Hanam'."

Mayor Lee Hyun-jae stated, "The Wirye-Sinsa Line extension to Hanam is a long-held civic aspiration and a key task for expanding transportation infrastructure. Through this forum, we will gather expert opinions and citizens' voices and convey them to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Grand Committee, and Gyeonggi Province, and will do our best to have them reflected in the 5th Metropolitan Area Regional Transportation Implementation Plan and the 2nd Seoul Metropolitan Urban Railway Network Construction Plan (revision)."