Assemblyman Kim Hoe-jae Urges "Early Promotion of Jeolla Line Straightening and High-Speed Upgrade and Yeosu-Namhae Undersea Tunnel"

Attendance at the COVID-19 National Crisis Overcome Committee Honam Region Meeting, Urging "Reconsideration of Korean Air Yeosu Route Discontinuation"
Lee Nak-yeon, COVID-19 National Crisis Overcome Committee Chairman, Responds, "We Will Actively Support This Essential Project"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Kim Hoe-jae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (Yeosu-eul, Jeonnam), attended the Honam region meeting of the COVID-19 National Crisis Overcoming Committee held at the Jeonbuk Provincial Government Large Conference Room on the 22nd, where he strongly urged the "early promotion of the Jeolla Line railway straightening and high-speed project, cooperation for passing the preliminary feasibility study of the Yeosu-Namhae undersea tunnel, and reconsideration of Korean Air's Yeosu route discontinuation."

Rep. Kim Hoe-jae stated, "President Moon Jae-in and the government are preparing to promote large-scale national projects to overcome the COVID-19 economic crisis. As part of this Korean-style K-New Deal, it is essential to expedite the high-speed railway project for the Jeolla Line, which remains the only line with a 3-hour KTX travel time."

He continued, "While our country has well-developed railways and transportation in the north-south direction, the east-west transportation situation is very poor. Therefore, the Yeosu-Namhae undersea tunnel should be opened as soon as possible and, together with the Yeosu-Goheung land and island bridges, serve as a driving force to revitalize the South Coast tourism belt."

Regarding Korean Air's withdrawal from the Yeosu route, he urged, "Korean Air should not only consider immediate passenger load and deficits but also look at the future Yeosu, which is emerging as the largest domestic tourist destination with over 13 million tourists annually, and reconsider the route discontinuation."

In response, Lee Nak-yeon, chairman of the Democratic Party's COVID-19 National Crisis Overcoming Committee, replied, "We will actively support the three proposals made by Rep. Kim Hoe-jae as projects that must be promoted."

Chairman Lee Nak-yeon emphasized, "The early commencement of the Jeolla Line straightening and high-speed project is only a matter of timing and is a project that must be carried out." Regarding the Korean Air route discontinuation, he added, "It must never happen, and we will actively help the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to prevent the discontinuation."

Meanwhile, the meeting was organized to understand the local situation in the Honam region and to prepare government-level support and alternatives for the 'post-COVID' era. It was attended by Chairman Lee Nak-yeon, local government heads from the Honam region, members of the National Assembly, and others in large numbers.

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