Jeonnam Province Begins Construction of High-Speed Rail Station at Muan International Airport

Perspective view of the High-Speed Rail Muan International Airport Station (tentative name). Photo by Jeonnam Province

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] With the promotion of the new Honam High-Speed Railway Phase 2 line from Gomakwon to Muan International Airport to Mokpo, construction of the high-speed railway station at Muan International Airport will officially begin.

According to Jeonnam Province on the 18th, the high-speed railway station at Muan International Airport will be the only one among the 14 local airports nationwide where the high-speed train stops, and it will be installed underground at the airport to enhance accessibility to the passenger terminal and convenience for users.

In particular, it is expected to be constructed as a world-class railway station with a three-dimensional flow design, greatly contributing to the activation of the airport as a regional landmark.

To this end, the province will operate a 'support consultative body' composed of the Korea Rail Network Authority and related local governments (Naju, Muan, Hampyeong) to devise administrative support measures such as land compensation and resolving civil complaints, aiming to advance the opening schedule of the Honam High-Speed Railway.

Additionally, the province is promoting a connecting line so that this route can extend to Muan International Airport in time for the opening of the Namhae High-Speed Railway between Mokpo and Busan scheduled for 2023.

Once these projects are completed, travel time from the metropolitan area to Muan International Airport will be reduced to about 1 hour and 50 minutes, and from Busan and the Gyeongnam region, travel time will be shortened from the original 6 hours and 30 minutes to about 2 hours. Accordingly, the usage range of Muan International Airport is expected to expand not only to the metropolitan area but also to the South Coast region, significantly increasing the number of passengers.

The Honam High-Speed Railway had not even finalized the route due to airport transit issues after opening the double track and electrification of the Honam Line in 2004 and the high-speed railway to Gwangju Songjeong Station in 2015.

Since the current government took office, the route passing through Muan International Airport was confirmed in November 2017, and administrative procedures such as basic planning and detailed design have been underway, but the full opening has been postponed until 2025.

Park Cheolwon, Director of the Road Traffic Division of Jeonnam Province, said, “Once the Honam High-Speed Railway station is installed, accessibility will be dramatically improved, and Muan International Airport is expected to serve not only as Jeonnam’s airport but also as a representative gateway airport of South Korea.”

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