GTX-D 'Direct Connection to Gangnam' Possible?... Gimpo Residents Hold 'Candlelight Protest'

Gimpo Residents Hold Candlelight Rally... Urging 'Direct Connection to Gangnam'
GTX-D Controversy Enters One Month... Political Circles Also Join In

On the afternoon of the 22nd, the 'GTX-D Gangnam Direct Connection Pan-Citizen Countermeasure Committee,' composed of citizens from Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, and Geomdan, Incheon, held a candlelight rally in the Wondang-dong area of Seo-gu, Incheon, demanding the direct connection of the Seoul Metropolitan Area Express Train (GTX) Line D to Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Jiwon] Controversy surrounding the Metropolitan Area Express Railway (GTX) Line D, commonly known as the 'Kim Bu-seon (Gimpo~Bucheon line),' has continued for a month. The 'GTX-D Direct Connection to Gangnam Pan-Citizen Countermeasure Committee,' composed of citizens from Geomdan, held a candlelight rally on the weekend of the 22nd, demanding that the GTX-D line be directly connected to Seoul.

According to industry sources on that day, about 400 people (estimated by the organizers), including committee members and local residents, held a rally from 7 p.m. the previous day around Wondang-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon. Residents urged the connection of the GTX-D line from Gimpo to Gangnam to Hanam and the extension of Seoul Subway Line 5 to Geomdan and Gimpo. The committee raised their voices, saying, "We must finalize a route that directly connects to Gangnam, not the Gimpo~Bucheon line, which is unworthy of being called a metropolitan railway."

Since the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport unveiled the draft of the 4th National Railway Network Construction Plan, including the GTX-D line, at the end of last month, opposition has been growing mainly among Gimpo residents. Initially, local residents expected the GTX-D line to connect Gimpo to Gangnam, but the plan only included a route connecting Gimpo Janggi and Bucheon Sports Complex.

More than 200,000 people have participated in the 'Protect the Original GTX-D Plan' pan-citizen signature campaign, which started on the 6th. Gimpo City will officially submit the city’s opinion letter and citizens’ signatures to Gyeonggi Province on the 24th. The 'GTX-D Incheon Citizens Promotion Group,' composed of citizens from Yeongjong and Cheongna in Incheon, also plans to hold a walking event on the 23rd, demanding the GTX-D line from Incheon Airport.

A banner urging the original plan for the GTX-D line to be maintained is hung at Gimpo City Hall. [Image source=Yonhap News]

As residents’ opposition continues, the political sphere is also joining in. Former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon boarded the Gimpo Gold Line on the morning of the 17th and called Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Noh Hyung-wook, urging a swift resolution to the GTX-D line controversy. Former People Power Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo also criticized at the 'GTX-D Line Issues and Alternatives Discussion Meeting' on the 19th, saying, "New towns should be developed after establishing transportation infrastructure first, but leaving people to fend for themselves in poor conditions is not the government's role."

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum recently appeared on a radio broadcast and stated regarding the demand for the GTX-D line extension, "We will supplement it in some form." The Seoul Metropolitan Council of District Mayors, a consultative body of 25 district offices in Seoul, decided to jointly request the government to extend the GTX-D line to Seoul. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has stepped back, saying it will consider extending the GTX-D line to Yeouido or Yongsan, but Gimpo residents still insist that it should pass through Gangnam in Seoul and continue to Hanam in Gyeonggi Province.

However, some criticize that the political sphere is overly swayed by local public opinion ahead of elections. In fact, in other regions, political moves to extend the GTX-D line have been criticized with comments like, "Do they just give in if people throw a tantrum?" There are also concerns that overturning decisions made based on the results of professional institutions such as the Korea Transport Institute within a few months undermines policy consistency. The government plans to announce the final version of the 4th National Railway Network Construction Plan, including the direction for the GTX-D extension, next month.

(Photo by Reader)

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