Assemblyman Jo O-seop Launches Full-Scale Construction of Honam Region Metropolitan Railroad Network

Gwangju City-Jeonnam Province-Naju City-Hwasun County Win-Win Meeting Held

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] National Assembly member Jo O-seop (Democratic Party of Korea, Gwangju Buk-gu Gap) has officially started efforts to establish the ‘Honam Region Metropolitan Railway Network.’

On the 18th, Representative Jo held a cooperative meeting between Gwangju Metropolitan City, Jeollanam-do, Naju City, and Hwasun County at the National Assembly.

The meeting was promoted to establish a communication and cooperation system for the construction of the Honam Region Metropolitan Railway Network in major statutory plans related to metropolitan railways, including the 4th National Railway Network Construction Plan (2021?2030) scheduled for June, the 2nd Metropolitan Transportation Basic Plan (2021?2040), and the 4th Metropolitan Transportation Implementation Plan (2021?2025), which will be decided within this year.

Attendees included National Assembly member Shin Jeong-hoon (Naju·Hwasun), Park Nam-eon, Director of Gwangju City Transportation and Construction Bureau, Park Cheol-won, Head of Road Traffic Division of Jeollanam-do, Jeong Gwon-su, Director of Safety and Urban Construction Bureau of Naju City, and Kim Seung-hwan, Head of Construction Division of Hwasun County, among other railway transportation policy officials.

Gwangju City and Jeollanam-do are requesting the establishment of metropolitan railway lines included in the 4th National Railway Network Construction Plan: ▲Gwangju~Naju ▲Gwangju~Hwasun.

However, regarding the Gwangju~Naju metropolitan railway, Gwangju City requested the establishment of the ‘Sangmu Station~Seogwangju~Innovation City~Naju Station’ line, while Jeollanam-do recently proposed the ‘Seogwangju~Nampyeong~Innovation City~Naju Station~Pyeongdong Station’ line, causing a mismatch between the two institutions.

Representative Jo stated that realistically, this line would be most effective as an extension line continuing from the 3rd phase of Urban Railway Line 2 (Baegun Square~Hyochon District) for metropolitan railway construction.

He also proposed connecting the Gwangju~Damyang~Sunchang~Namwon~Jangsu section of the Dalbit Inland Railway as a metropolitan railway network, linking not only Gwangju and Jeollanam-do but also Jeonbuk, thereby creating a lifeline for the mutual development of the Honam region.

Furthermore, he expressed the urgent need to discuss the issue of the 30% local government share of construction costs for the metropolitan railway network and measures to address operating cost burdens after the network is established.

Representative Jo said, “Since metropolitan railway networks in local areas clearly have economic limitations, alternatives and grounds must be created under the principle of supply first, demand later. Like the Busan·Ulsan·Gyeongnam region, which speaks with a unified voice regarding metropolitan railway networks, urgent communication and cooperation systems among Gwangju, Jeollanam-do, and Jeonbuk are needed to establish the Honam Region Metropolitan Railway Network.”

Representative Shin stated, “This year’s 4th National Railway Network Construction Plan, 2nd Metropolitan Transportation Basic Plan, and 4th Metropolitan Transportation Implementation Plan will be a crucial turning point for metropolitan railway network construction, and both sections, Gwangju~Naju and Gwangju~Hwasun, must be reflected.”

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