Yongin City to invest 452.1 billion won in roads and railways this year...establishing metropolitan-level transportation network

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Choi Ki-ho] Yongin Special City is investing a total of 452.196 billion won in road and railway network construction projects this year, constructing a dense transportation network to create a metropolitan-level city structure.

The city announced on the 2nd that under the 8th civilian-led administration of Yongin City, which has emerged as a semiconductor-centered city, after laying institutional groundwork through smooth construction of the Yongin Advanced System Semiconductor National Industrial Complex until last year to maintain the competitive edge of South Korea's semiconductor industry, this year it will focus on expanding organic road and railway networks not only for advanced IT talent and logistics movement but also to improve mobility convenience for 1.1 million Yongin citizens.

To this end, the city allocated 196.954 billion won for the road sector, 48.3070 billion won for the urban rail sector, and 206.934 billion won for other sectors including public transportation and logistics. This represents a 5.39% increase compared to last year's total of 429.054 billion won.

■ Denser and wider...organic connection of expressways, national roads, and provincial roads

The Sejong-Pocheon Expressway section (Anseong~Yongin~Guri), a metropolitan transportation network connecting Yongin north and south along with the Gyeongbu Expressway, opened on New Year's Day this year, making travel to Seoul and northern Gyeonggi to the north and Chungcheong Province to the south more convenient.

The Yongin section spans 26km, and from the Yongin Junction (Yangji) can access the Yeongdong Expressway to travel toward Incheon and Gangneung, while from the North Yongin Junction (Pogok) can access the Second Seoul Metropolitan Circumferential Expressway to head toward the western direction of the metropolitan area including Osan and Hwaseong.

The city plans to complete the Provincial Road 321 Maesan~Ilsan section (2.32km) connected to the North Yongin IC (Hyohyeon) by the end of this year for convenient use, and is continuously proposing to Gyeonggi Province the rapid design of the Yuwun~Maesan section (3.7km) and reflection of expansion plans for the Maesan 4-ri Entrance~Maesan Intersection section (2.3km).

The Gyeongbu Underground Expressway project, which will tunnel the Gyeongbu Expressway Giheung IC~Yangjae IC section (26.1km) underground, passed preliminary feasibility review by the Ministry of Economy and Finance in August last year, brightening prospects for the city's "L-shaped 3-axis road network plan" under implementation.

The city's "L-shaped 3-axis road network plan" consists of a semiconductor expressway axis (L1) and two semiconductor inland road axes (L2, L3), with the L1 axis being a route connecting the Gyeongbu Underground Expressway and the Semiconductor Expressway (Hwaseong Yangam~Yongin Namsa·Idong~Anseong Iljuk).

The city believes that if the Gyeongbu Underground Expressway project proceeds, it will not only relieve congestion on the heavily trafficked Gyeongbu Expressway but also facilitate logistics movement between semiconductor companies concentrated in Yongin, further solidifying the city's semiconductor ecosystem.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to invest approximately 3.7879 trillion won in this road, completing feasibility studies and detailed design work and other follow-up procedures this year before commencing construction in 2027 and completing it in 2032.

The Yongin~Seongnam Expressway, one of the L3 axes, is also in the process of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport requesting KDI private sector feasibility review in December last year. The Yongin~Seongnam Expressway is a project proposed by a private operator to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in early last year, connecting the Yeongdong Expressway and the First Seoul Metropolitan Circumferential Expressway. The city anticipates that this road will greatly help distribute north-south traffic volume in the city.

With the confirmation of the establishment of Dongbaek IC (tentative name) on the Yeongdong Expressway, a long-held wish of Giheung District residents, the city plans to sign an agreement with the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) in the first half of this year to share the total project cost at a ratio of 70.5 to 29.5. The Korea Expressway Corporation will begin detailed design in the first half of this year with construction from 2027 to 2029.

The city is also promoting construction of major semiconductor industrial complex peripheral roads to vitalize the semiconductor industry.

First, as the central government exempts preliminary feasibility reviews for roads, electricity, and water supply for the smooth construction of the Yongin Advanced System Semiconductor National Industrial Complex, National Route 45 (Choin-gu Namdong Daechen Intersection~Anseong-si Yangseong-myeon Jangseo Intersection, 12.5km), which has caused chronic congestion, is being expanded from 4 lanes to 8 lanes and is proceeding entirely with national funds, targeting 2030 completion, three or more years earlier than originally planned.

In addition, a 6.8km section of National Local Road 82 from Changri in Namsa-eup, Choin-gu to Jangji-dong, Hwaseong-si will be expanded to 4 lanes. Though it had been reflected in the 4th National Road and Local Road 5-year Plan in 2016 and subsequently stalled through feasibility re-reviews, the city's efforts resulted in withdrawal of the feasibility re-review and inclusion of this road in linked transportation measures following last year's national industrial complex designation, providing momentum for progress.

Provincial Road 321 expansion project from Bongmyeong-ri in Namsa-eup to Agok-ri for 5.3km to 4 lanes is also planned for 156.8 billion won investment as a linked transportation measure for the national industrial complex and 2030 completion.

The project to expand 4.6km from Wanjang-ri in Namsa-eup to Seori in Idong-eup to 4 lanes, reflected in the 3rd Gyeonggi Province Road Construction Plan, began design in November last year and is proceeding toward 2026 design completion.

Construction to expand National Route 17 Yangji IC~Pyeongchang Intersection section (3.08km) from 4 lanes to 6 lanes is proceeding under the Seoul Regional Land Management Office with a 2030 completion target. The city is continuously proposing extension of the expansion section to Pyeongchang Intersection~Bogae Wonsam-ro (4.2km) since this is a road connected to the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster where SK Hynix is investing 122 trillion won to construct 4 semiconductor fabs on 1.26 million pyeong in the Wonsam-myeon area.

As the first fab construction of the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster begins this March, the city will expand the main access road Bogae Wonsam-ro start and end points from 2 lanes to 3 lanes to prevent congestion in surrounding areas. The start and end points are each 50~70m sections at National Route 17 and the industrial complex connection point. The 4-lane expansion construction for the entire Bogae Wonsam-ro (1.88km) is planned for completion within this year.

The Provincial Road 315 underground passage construction project to resolve chronic congestion in the Bora-dong area of Giheung-gu is also planned for completion within this year. This is a location where the 8th civilian-led Yongin Special City, by conveying to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport the idea of raising the longitudinal gradient of the underground passage entrance and exit section by 5%, changed the underground road design guidelines, finally realizing underground passage construction in 2023 according to residents' wishes. The Korea Land and Housing Corporation is proceeding with 200 billion won in city funds out of the total project cost of 102.9 billion won.

■ Essential infrastructure for semiconductor ecosystem expansion...establishing metropolitan rail network

Regarding rail network construction, the city is pursuing ▲Gyeonggang Line Extension Project (Gyeonggi Gwangju Station~Yongin Idong·Namsa, 37.97km, total project cost 2.3154 trillion won) ▲Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railway Project (Seoul Olympic Gymnastics Arena Station~Seoseong Station~Seongnam Pangyo~Yongin Sinbong·Seongbok-dong~Suwon Gwanggyo~Hwaseong Bongdam, 50.7km, total project cost 5.2750 trillion won) ▲Gyeonggi Southern East-West Crossing Line (Dongtan Station~Idong~Wonsam~Icheon Bufal, 40.6km, total project cost 1.1701 trillion won) and 3 other projects to be reflected in the 5th National Railway Network Construction Plan of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

The Gyeonggang Line Extension Project is a route connecting Gyeonggi Gwangju Station to Everland, Cheongli, Idong public housing complex, Yongin Idong·Namsa-eup Advanced System Semiconductor National Industrial Complex, and Namsa-eup. The city anticipates that with this rail network constructed, it will connect with the Sudogwon Inland Line, Seoseong~Gwangju Line, Wirae Samsuline, Shinbundang Line, GTX, and Wolgot Pangyo Line, enabling citizens to easily travel to Seoul, the metropolitan area, and Chungcheong Province.

The Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railway Project is a metropolitan rail line jointly promoted by four cities—Yongin, Suwon, Seongnam, and Hwaseong—for the transportation convenience of 4.2 million citizens. It is a fundamental metropolitan transportation improvement measure capable of resolving the Yongseo Expressway congestion phenomenon during commute times.

Mayor Lee Sang-il met with Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Park Sang-woo on December 26 last year, requesting the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's support for expanding rail infrastructure in Yongin while delivering related materials and correspondence.

Regarding Gyeonggi Province recently submitting to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport the priority ranking for the 5th National Railway Network Construction Plan with the "Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railway Project" placed in lower priority while only listing "GTX Plus 3 projects," the mayor sent correspondence to Minister Park Sang-woo in November last year, stating, "When the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport formulates the '5th National Railway Network Construction Plan,' please make rational judgments through cold-headed comparative evaluation of objective standards such as benefit-cost (B/C) ratios for the 'Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railway Project' jointly promoted by Yongin, Suwon, Seongnam, and Hwaseong cities and the 'GTX Plus 3 projects' promoted by Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon."

The Bundang Line Extension Project (Giheung Station~Osan University Station, 16.9km, total project cost 1.6015 trillion won), which was confirmed and announced as a new project in the 4th National Railway Network Construction Plan in 2021, is progressing as the National Railroad Corporation recently applied to the Ministry of Economy and Finance for preliminary feasibility review after completing preliminary feasibility study work by the National Railroad Corporation.

The city believes that if the Bundang Line extension is pursued, it will become a key axis connecting major economic bases of the city including the Yongin Advanced System Semiconductor National Industrial Complex, Platform City, and Samsung Electronics Future Research Complex (Giheung Campus), and is continuously coordinating with relevant organizations including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Railroad Corporation, and Hwaseong and Osan cities, emphasizing that transportation demand and project economic viability will increase further.

The Indukwon~Dongtan Line double-track railroad passing through the city's western region is already under construction in the Yongin section. Out of the total project cost of approximately 4.2127 trillion won, the city's burden is approximately 199.6 billion won with 39.932 billion won to be invested this year. Full section completion is planned for 2029.

When the Indukwon~Dongtan Line is completed, it will efficiently connect five cities including Anyang, Uiwang, Suwon, and Hwaseong along with Yongin, serving as an alternative means to relieve road congestion in the southern metropolitan area.

■ Intersection system improvement and 20% increase in bus operation rate, etc. enhancing transportation convenience

The city will invest 1.1 billion won in improving the traffic system at 7 major intersections in the region including Myeongji Intersection, Kyunghee University 3-way Intersection, and Jeil Intersection that cause congestion due to bottleneck phenomena, creating a convenient and safe transportation environment.

Rather than constructing new roads requiring large-scale construction or permission procedures, this seeks to resolve congestion and reduce traffic accident rates through customized traffic system improvements such as intersection consolidation, roundabout installation, traffic island separation, and lane creation utilizing state and public land.

The city will invest 46.3 billion won to construct 3 public parking lots totaling 352 spaces in areas with poor parking environments such as residential and commercial areas. These include Towol Public Parking Lot in Pungdeokcheon-dong, Suji-gu (2,880㎡, 113 spaces), Yeokbuk District Public Parking Lot in Choin-gu (4,791㎡, 125 spaces), and Anma Village Public Parking Lot in Gugal-dong, Giheung-gu (2,196㎡, 114 spaces).

The Yongin Public Bus Terminal, established in 1994, will be renovated into a pleasant facility to be completed in February this year. It is currently operating temporarily. The city will feature neatly refurbished bus boarding platforms, commercial facilities, rest facilities and lodging for transportation workers, and rest spaces for female workers in the new Yongin Public Bus Terminal of basement 1st floor to ground 2nd floor (total floor area 2,881.7㎡).

For citizens' bus usage convenience, the city will invest 720 million won in city funds to increase the operation rate of city and village buses by more than 20%. This is done by providing treatment improvement allowances to new and long-term transportation workers to prevent situations where buses cannot operate even though they are available at garages due to shortage of transportation workers.

For citizens waiting for buses, the city will invest 400 million won to install enclosed shelters at 5 metropolitan bus transfer stops including Kangnam University Station and Kangnam University Entrance stops. Photo zones utilizing the city character Joayong will be provided along with bus information guidance terminals and warm-cold chairs.