Kim Dong-yeon: "I am keeping my promise to give commuters one extra hour daily—implementing it gradually"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Gap-dong] Governor Kim Dong-yeon of Gyeonggi Province stated, "I am gradually implementing my promise to give provincial residents one extra hour for their daily commute," and expressed his determination to promptly advance the 12 metro lines reflected in the 'Second Gyeonggi Province Metro Development Plan.'

The 'National Assembly Forum for Accelerating the 2nd Gyeonggi Province Metro Development Plan,' held on January 9 in Meeting Room 2 of the National Assembly Members' Hall, was attended by Governor Kim Dong-yeon, National Assembly Members Kim Tae-nyeon, Baek Hye-ryeon, Kim Seung-won, Lee Su-jin, Han Jun-ho, Kim Jun-hyeok, Bu Seung-chan, Ahn Tae-jun, and Lee Ki-heon, as well as approximately 100 other attendees including residents, city and county officials, research institutes, and transportation experts.

In his welcome remarks, Governor Kim Dong-yeon said, "This metro development plan includes areas with inconvenient transportation, areas awaiting development, and areas aligned with balanced regional development," and added, "Last year saw major achievements in railways, including the opening of GTX-A and the Byeolnae Line. We are witnessing major business districts in Gyeonggi Province entering a 20-minute living zone."

After introducing Gyeonggi Province's transportation welfare policies including Gyeonggi Pass, Dduk Bus, and half-price tolls on the Ilsan Bridge, Governor Kim stated, "This is just the beginning. The most critical factor is passing the preliminary feasibility study. I will make maximum efforts with the 25 National Assembly members to ensure the plan is implemented quickly as scheduled. Please show interest and lend your support."

The 'Second Gyeonggi Province Metro Development Plan,' formulated through a service contract for the 'Gyeonggi Province Metro Development Plan' from September 2021 to December 2023, received final approval and announcement from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in December of last year.

The plan encompasses a total of 12 lines, covering a length of 104.48 km, with a total project cost of approximately 7.2 trillion won, including the △Wolgot-Baeggot Line △Yongin Line Extension △Suwon Metro Line 1 △Moran-Pangyo Line △Seongnam Metro Line 1 △Seongnam Metro Line 2 △Gimpo Gold Line Hakun Extension △Pangyo-Opo Line △Dongbaek Shinbong Line △Gajwa-Siksa Line △Daegok Goyang City Hall-Siksa Line △Deokjeong-Okjeong Line.

Officials from various cities and counties including Suwon, Yongin, Goyang, Seongnam, Siheung, Gimpo, Gwangju, and Yangju, who participated in the forum, emphasized that metro development projects are long-standing local demands and formed a consensus on the need for expedited project promotion.

Furthermore, they stressed that urban metro development is a core infrastructure that determines regional balanced development and living conditions beyond improving commute convenience, and raised the necessity to establish an organic cooperation system among Gyeonggi Province, cities and counties, and the National Assembly during the preliminary feasibility study phases.

Park Kyung-cheol, Vice President of the Gyeonggi Research Institute, who delivered the keynote address, stated, "'Our Neighborhood Metro: Starting Now'—as the theme suggests, this plan is merely the starting line. The biggest obstacle in promoting railway projects is the preliminary feasibility study," and suggested, "We must conduct a thorough analysis of why first-phase metro development projects were not implemented and increase the likelihood of passing the preliminary feasibility study through multifaceted review of implementation methods."

In particular, the forum was co-hosted by 25 National Assembly Members (Kim Seung-won, Kim Seong-hoe, Kim Seung-won, Kim Young-jin, Kim Young-hwan, Kim Eun-hye, Kim Joo-young, Kim Jun-hyeok, Kim Tae-nyeon, Moon Jung-bok, Park Sang-hyeok, Baek Hye-ryeon, Bu Seung-chan, So Byeong-hun, Son Myeong-soo, Ahn Cheol-soo, Ahn Tae-jun, Yeom Tae-young, Lee Ki-heon, Lee Sang-sik, Lee Su-jin, Lee Eon-joo, Chung Seong-ho, Cho Jeong-sik, and Han Jun-ho), who shared recognition on the need for rapid promotion of projects reflected in the 2nd Gyeonggi Province Metro Development Plan and created an opportunity to establish policy attention and cooperation conditions at the National Assembly level.

Meanwhile, the province plans to cooperate with cities and counties to ensure swift progress in follow-up procedures for the lines reflected in the 2nd Metro Development Plan, while continuing consultations with the central government to maximize the reflection of projects proposed in the 5th National Railway Development Plan and the 5th Metropolitan Transportation Implementation Plan.