'Wando Route Honam High-Speed Railway Jeju Extension' National Assembly Forum Held

Full Effort to Reflect in the 4th National Railroad Network Construction Plan

Essential Projects for Transportation Network Improvement, Regional Economic Revitalization, and Balanced National Development

Wando County held a National Assembly forum on the "Extension of the Honam High-Speed Railway to Jeju via Wando." (Photo by Wando County)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Kyung-pil] Wando County, Jeollanam-do, announced on the 19th that it held a National Assembly forum on the 18th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building to publicize the necessity and justification of constructing the Honam High-Speed Railway between Honam and Jeju passing through Wando, and to explore ways to reflect it in the 4th National Railroad Network Construction Plan.

The Honam High-Speed Railway Jeju extension project is a plan to build a high-speed railway connecting the section from Mokpo, the terminal station of the Honam Line KTX, to Jeju via an underwater tunnel and bridges.

The county has actively proposed that the route passing through Mokpo?Haenam?Wando?Bogildo?Chujado?Jeju Island be reflected in the national railroad network construction plan.

The forum was co-hosted by National Assembly members Yoon Jae-gap, Lee Gae-ho, Cho Oh-seop, and Kim Seung-nam, organized by Wando County and the Public Transportation Forum, and supported by Jeollanam-do. Attendees included Wando County Governor Shin Woo-cheol, members of the National Assembly, county council members, academic experts, and local residents.

In his congratulatory remarks, Wando County Governor Shin Woo-cheol said, “If the Honam High-Speed Railway passing through Wando is constructed, it will secure a stable means of transportation and improve accessibility, enabling local residents to lead better lives. The formation of a tourism belt and increased tourism demand are expected to have a tremendous ripple effect on the local economy.” He added, “We will make every effort to ensure that the Wando route Honam High-Speed Railway project is reflected in the 4th National Railroad Network Construction Plan and promoted.”

Following this, Professor Kang Seung-pil of Seoul National University of Science and Technology gave a presentation titled “The Necessity of Extending the National Core Transportation Network and the Honam High-Speed Railway from Wando to Jeju,” followed by a discussion involving Professor Yang Gil-hyun of Jeju National University and Researcher Lee Jun of the Korea Railroad Research Institute.

Professor Kang Seung-pil, who gave the keynote presentation, stated, “For the current national core transportation network plan to cover the entire Korean Peninsula including Jeju, the Honam High-Speed Railway must be extended via Wando to Jeju as a detailed plan.” He presented the necessity of the project in terms of building a high-speed transportation network along the western axis of the Korean Peninsula, preparing for aviation and passenger accidents due to weather factors, and regional balanced development.

The discussion, chaired by Kim Si-gon, president of the Korean Society of Transportation, involved in-depth discussions on the necessity, expected effects, issues, and promotion directions of the Wando route Honam High-Speed Railway project.

Professor Yang Gil-hyun of Jeju National University mentioned, “If the high-speed railway connects Seoul to Jeju, an economic effect of 43 trillion won and employment effects for 330,000 people can be expected.”

Jang Bak-won, editorial writer of Maeil Business Newspaper, said, “If the Honam High-Speed Railway passes through Wando, material and human exchanges will increase, enhancing territorial utilization.” Researcher Cho Sang-pil of the Gwangju Jeonnam Research Institute emphasized the necessity of the Wando route Honam High-Speed Railway, stating, “To intensively foster national projects such as the marine healing industry and marine bio-industry, accessibility improvements are necessary.”

A county official stated, “We will consult with Jeollanam-do on the necessity and promotion strategies of the project derived from the forum and continuously propose it to central government departments to ensure that the Honam High-Speed Railway construction project passing through Wando is reflected in the 4th National Railroad Network Plan.”

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