Gwangju and Jeonnam Civic Groups Urge Active Inclusion in the 4th National Railway Network Plan

Citizen groups from Gwangju and Jeonnam regions are urging the active inclusion of railway lines for the sections applied for by Gwangju and Jeonnam in the 4th National Railway Network Plan (2021?2030) promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport during a press conference held on the morning of the 11th at the Citizen Communication Room of the Gwangju Metropolitan Council.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Civic groups in the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions have urged that the railway lines proposed by Gwangju and Jeonnam in the 4th National Railway Network Plan (2021?2030), promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, be actively reflected.

On the 11th at 11:15 a.m., Gwangju and Jeonnam civic groups held a press conference in the Citizen Communication Room of the Gwangju Metropolitan Council, pointing out that “the current railway lines in the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions are significantly lower in level compared to the Seoul metropolitan area, Chungcheong region, and Yeongnam region, and the reflection of railway lines in Gwangju and Jeonnam has been sluggish in the 1st to 3rd railway network plans.”

They continued, “Gwangju and Jeonnam remain the most underdeveloped regions nationwide, and due to continuous railway network neglect and discriminatory policies, the current level is significantly lower than other regions, and according to existing plans, there is little room for substantial improvement in the future.”

They also stated, “There are diverse and comprehensive values not only in terms of resolving regional disparities in railway lines but also in national balanced development, tourism industry and national key industry development, revitalization of Yeongho-nam exchanges and alleviation of regional animosity, addressing the Jeju overtourism phenomenon, and preparing for the future Siberian railway era connecting Europe with Jeju and the Korean Peninsula. Therefore, it is not desirable to review railway lines solely based on current user levels or cost-benefit analysis.”

The statement was issued with the participation of civic groups including the Gwangju Citizens’ Coalition, Jeonnam Civic Groups Solidarity Conference, Gwangju Economic Justice Practice Citizens’ Union, Participation and Autonomy 21, Gwangju Headquarters of the Local Decentralization Movement, Jeonnam Decentralization Solidarity, and Gwangju-Jeonnam Innovation City Forum.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is establishing the 4th National Railway Network Construction Plan (2021?2030). The National Railway Network Construction Plan is the highest-level domestic railway plan prepared every 10 years under Article 4 of the Act on Construction and Maintenance of Railway Facilities, including plans for high-speed rail, general rail, and metropolitan rail.

The Gwangju Metropolitan City and Jeonnam Province have each applied for three lines: the Gwangju-Naju metropolitan railway, the Gwangju-Hwasun metropolitan railway, and the Gwangju-Daegu Dalbit Inland Railway.

Separately, Gwangju City has applied for the double-track electrification between Gwangju Station and Songjeong Station, and Jeonnam Province has applied for projects including the Iksan-Yeosu Jeolla Line high-speed railway, Honam high-speed railway extension to Jeju, Gunsan-Mokpo West Coast railway, and the construction of an EMU maintenance base.

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