Wando County Makes All-Out Effort to Upgrade Wando-Gohung Coastal Tourist Road to National Highway

Site Visit to Proposed National Road Upgrade Section and Recommendation for Inclusion in the 2nd Comprehensive National Road Network Plan

Shin Woo-cheol, Wando County Governor, explained the necessity of upgrading the Wando~Goheung Coastal Tourist Road to a national highway to officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport at the Sinyang Pier in Geumsan-myeon, Goheung County. (Photo by Wando County)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Kyungpil] Wando County, Jeonnam (Governor Shin Woo-cheol) announced on the 9th that it is making every effort to upgrade the Wando-Gohung coastal tourist road to a national highway.

On the 7th, Joo Hyun-jong, Director of the Road Bureau at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, visited the Shinyang Ferry Terminal in Geumsan-myeon, Goheung County, the section proposed for national highway upgrade, where Governor Shin Woo-cheol explained the necessity and feasibility of upgrading the Wando-Gohung coastal tourist road to a national highway.

Governor Shin said, “It took 3 hours to arrive here passing through 5 counties, but with the construction of the connecting bridge, it will take only 30 minutes,” and urged, “This project is essential for improving the transportation network and balanced national development, so please make sure to include it in the 2nd National Road Network Comprehensive Plan.”

If the Wando-Gohung coastal tourist road is included in the 2nd National Road Network Comprehensive Plan, the only disconnected section between Mokpo and Busan (Provincial Road 830 Wando-Gohung road) will be connected, establishing a transportation network in the southwestern coast. The connecting project (5 marine bridges totaling 10.2 km, and connecting roads of 17.2 km) will be actively carried out, and transportation conditions are expected to improve dramatically.

Furthermore, securing a single living zone is expected not only to increase the income of local residents but also to become a turning point for tourism development in the southwestern coast.

Governor Shin Woo-cheol repeatedly requested, “I hope the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will take great interest and support the upgrade of the Wando-Gohung coastal tourist road to a national highway.”

In response, Director Joo Hyun-jong said, “This route has been selected by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport as a candidate for national highway upgrade in the ‘2nd National Road Network Comprehensive Plan’ and is currently under consultation with the Ministry of Economy and Finance,” adding, “We will pay attention to ensure a good outcome.”

The results of the ‘2nd National Road Network Comprehensive Plan’ are scheduled to be announced in the first half of this year, and the attention of local residents and expatriates is focused on whether this route will be included in the national highway upgrade.

Meanwhile, Wando County has made great efforts for the upgrade of the Wando-Gohung road to a national highway, including forming a pan-county countermeasure organization, adopting a joint resolution urging the upgrade, holding symposiums, and conducting signature campaigns.

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