Korean-Made Subway Crossing Singapore

Daelim Industrial Participates in Construction of the 7th Planned Line 'Jurong Region'

Hyundai Rotem to Supply First Batch of Trains Worth 356 Billion KRW... Unprecedented Win Over French and Japanese Firms

Recent Korean Companies' Successes Including GS Engineering & Construction and Samsung C&T's Orders Last Year

[Asia Economy, Singapore - Correspondent Seo Jumi] Korean companies are prominently participating in the subway construction projects underway in Singapore. They are involved both in construction and train supply.

According to Singapore English newspaper The Straits Times on the 25th, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) of Singapore has signed contracts with three construction companies, including Daelim Industrial, for the upcoming Jurong Region Line (JRL).

After a one-year bidding process, Daelim Industrial outcompeted a Japanese rival company and will be responsible for constructing transfer stations and viaducts by 2027. This project, jointly undertaken by Singaporean and Chinese construction firms, has a total budget of SGD 596 million (approximately 510 billion KRW). The 24 km-long Jurong Region Line is Singapore's 7th MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) line and the first fully elevated line without any underground stations. The Jurong region, through which the new line passes, is an industrial area in the southwest of Singapore currently undergoing large-scale commercial district development. It is also planned to be a stop for the future high-speed rail connecting to Malaysia.

The trains running on the Jurong Region Line will also be supplied by Hyundai Rotem. Recently, Hyundai Rotem finalized a contract with LTA to deliver a total of 186 driverless trains worth SGD 416.5 million (approximately 356 billion KRW). Considering that train supplies in Singapore have mainly been handled by French and Japanese rolling stock manufacturers until now, this is an unprecedented achievement. Except for a first-generation train refurbishment project, this will be Hyundai Rotem's first time supplying trains. Consequently, Korean companies will play a key role in Singapore's 7th MRT line.

The trains deployed on the Jurong Region Line will be equipped with a fully automated system. The maximum operating speed will be 70 km/h, and the trains will operate as 3-car driverless sets. They will feature a 'Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM) system' that monitors the status of major components in real-time to prevent failures and optimize maintenance cycles, as well as an 'Automatic Track Inspection (ATI) system' that uses undercarriage cameras and sensors to automatically check track conditions. Hyundai Rotem plans to conduct trial runs in 2024 and deliver the trains in phases by 2027.

Korean companies are showing remarkable performance in Singapore. Ssangyong Engineering & Construction has participated in the Downtown Line, which runs through the northwest and central areas of Singapore, and the Thomson Line, connecting the southern city center to the eastern coastal area. Last year, GS Engineering & Construction and Samsung C&T secured contracts for the North-South Expressway project. According to the Overseas Construction Association, the cumulative amount of contracts won by Korea in Singapore since 1972 has reached USD 43.22339 billion (approximately 51.3835 trillion KRW). Last year, Singapore ranked 7th among countries where Korea has expanded its construction business in terms of contract volume.

Despite geopolitical uncertainties, Singapore's construction market reached a five-year high last year. This year, the market is expected to continue its strong performance driven by a construction boom in the public sector, including public housing. The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) of Singapore forecasts construction demand of up to SGD 34 billion (approximately 29 trillion KRW) this year. Large-scale projects such as Changi Airport Terminal 5, Jurong Lake District development, and integrated resort expansions are scheduled to commence this year. In particular, Korean companies are expected to increase their contract opportunities based on their preferential status as priority countries for entry into Singapore.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.