Assemblyman Shin Jeong-hoon Proposes Inclusion of Gwangju-Hwasun Metropolitan Railroad in National Plan

Visit to Daegwangwi to Request Gyeongjeon Line Route via Hwasun

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Shin Jeong-hoon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea and National Assembly member for Jeonnam Naju-Hwasun, requested the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Metropolitan Area Wide-area Transportation Committee (Chairman Choi Ki-ju) on the 3rd to include the Gwangju-Hwasun metropolitan railroad and the Gyeongjeon Line railway passing through Hwasun.

The Gwangju-Hwasun metropolitan railroad is a project extending a total of 12.4 km from Sotae Station, the terminus of the Gwangju subway, through Neoritjae Tunnel and Hwasun-eup to Hwasun Jeonnam National University Hospital, with a total project cost of 522.5 billion KRW.

The Gyeongjeon Line single-track electrification project from Gwangju Songjeong to Boseong and Suncheon is a large-scale national project with a total length of 94.2 km and an investment of 2 trillion KRW, scheduled to complete detailed design by 2023 and begin construction in 2024.

However, in the ‘4th National Railroad Network Construction Plan’ announced on April 22 last month, the Gwangju-Hwasun metropolitan railroad was not included, and during the route design process of the Gyeongjeon Line, connecting Boseong to Naju Innovation City made it difficult to route through Hwasun.

Accordingly, on the same day, Assemblyman Shin Jeong-hoon met with Chairman Choi Ki-ju of the Metropolitan Area Wide-area Transportation Committee in Sejong City, along with Park Cheol-won, Director of Road Traffic Division of Jeonnam Province, and Kim Seung-hwan, Director of Construction Division of Hwasun County, to request the inclusion of the Gwangju-Hwasun metropolitan railroad and the Gyeongjeon Line passing through Hwasun.

Assemblyman Shin said, “Railroads are the starting point for regional balanced development as well as the formation of local metropolitan areas,” and urged, “Please make sure to include the Gyeongjeon Line passing through Hwasun and the Gwangju-Hwasun metropolitan railroad in the ‘4th National Railroad Network Construction Plan.’”

In response, Chairman Choi Ki-ju said, “According to the railroad department’s feasibility study results, the economic demand is low,” but added, “We will look for measures and alternatives regarding the projects you have proposed.”

Assemblyman Shin Jeong-hoon plans to continue cooperating with local governments such as Jeonnam Province, Gwangju City, and Hwasun County, as well as regional National Assembly members, to promote the Gwangju-Hwasun metropolitan railroad and the Gyeongjeon Line railway passing through Hwasun.

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