[Exclusive] Democratic Party's Busan Election Gamble: "Metropolitan Subway Pledge Like in the Capital Region"

Core Infrastructure of Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Megacity "New Airport Alone Is Not Enough"
New Airport Hub Transportation Network and Hinterland City Development Also Needed

Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is giving a speech at the party strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 25th, while Kim Young-jin, chief deputy floor leader, and Jeon Jae-soo, member of the National Assembly, are having a conversation. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] The Democratic Party of Korea is proposing a Southeast region metropolitan railway network as a pledge for the Busan mayoral by-election. They plan to introduce trains running at 20-minute intervals connecting Busan, Ulsan, and Masan, similar to the metropolitan area. The strategy appears to be to pass the Gadeokdo New Airport Special Act in the National Assembly next month and, in addition, to make a decisive move with plans to expand the land transportation network.

Jeon Jae-su, head of the Democratic Party’s Busan mayoral by-election planning team, said in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 20th, "To complete the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam economic community 'Mega City,' building a metropolitan transportation network is a fundamental infrastructure," adding, "Electric trains should operate on the existing railway network in the Southeast region and the newly constructed lines. Just as the metropolitan railway network connects Seoul, Incheon, and Suwon, we will pledge to enable the Southeast region to use a metropolitan railway."

The plan is to operate electric trains on the Gyeongjeon Line and the double-track section of the Donghae Nambu Line, which connect Masan Station in Changwon City, Gyeongnam Province, Bujeon Station in Busan, and Taehwagang Station in Ulsan. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport intends to deploy semi-high-speed trains with intervals of over an hour, but Busan City and Gyeongnam Province argue that electrification is necessary.

Jeon said, "Many Busan residents work in machinery, equipment, and shipbuilding material industries in nearby areas such as Gimhae and Yangsan, so there is a high demand for commuting. Traffic congestion is severe, so a railway network must be established," and added, "I am confident that the political sector will persuade the central government and secure the budget."

The Gadeokdo New Airport is generally supported not only by the Democratic Party but also by the People Power Party’s Busan mayoral candidates. It is difficult to run an election campaign while opposing the region’s biggest issue. The Democratic Party’s special bill for the Gadeokdo New Airport, proposed in November last year, includes exemptions from preliminary feasibility studies, upgrading the nearby Busan industrial complex to a national industrial complex, and providing tax benefits to investing companies. If passed in the National Assembly next month, it will mark the end of the long-standing controversy over the new airport construction and the full-scale construction of the Gadeokdo New Airport will begin.

Jeon emphasized, "From the perspective of Busan citizens, the Gadeokdo New Airport should have been built earlier, so it is somewhat delayed," adding, "The new airport will serve as a hub to connect the land transportation network, and a package of projects including the development of the airport’s hinterland complex, expansion of the Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone bonded area, and logistics plans linking Busan Port and the Gyeongbu Line will be promoted."

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