"Urging Original GTX-D Plan and Wirye-Sinsa Line Extension to Hanam... 'Broad Public Aspiration' Runs High"

Over 85,000 Signatures in 20 Days
"Original GTX-D Plan Promotion, the Only Solution for Metropolitan Traffic Congestion Relief and Balanced Development"

'GTX-D Original Plan and Wirye-Sinsa Line Extension to Hanam' Citizen Petition Campaign [Provided by Hanam City]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] The citizens of Hanam, Gyeonggi Province, are passionately advocating for the original plan of the Seoul Metropolitan Area Express Railway (GTX-D) Gangdong~Hanam line to be reflected and for the Wirye-Sinsa Line to be extended to Hanam.

Hanam City announced on the 11th that "as of 6 p.m. on the 8th, the number of participants signing the petition for 'Preserving the Original GTX-D Plan and Extending the Wirye-Sinsa Line to Hanam' has surpassed 85,000."

This marks just 20 days since the launch of the city-wide petition campaign on the 18th of last month, greatly exceeding the target of 50,000 signatures. In particular, areas such as Misadong, Sinjang-dong, and Chungung-dong showed participation rates exceeding 30% relative to their populations.

The Hanam City-wide GTX-D Line Attraction Committee (Chairman Yoo Byung-ki, hereafter 'Attraction Committee') delivered the petition containing the citizens' wishes to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on the 10th.

Chairman Yoo Byung-ki stated, "Only the promotion of the original GTX-D plan can resolve the metropolitan area’s severe traffic congestion and achieve balanced development," adding, "We will do our utmost until the end to ensure that the strong will of Hanam citizens, who earnestly desire the GTX-D line, is realized."

Previously, the Attraction Committee conducted daily petition drives in densely populated areas such as subway stations and traditional markets, and the Misari Residents’ Association raised funds to place bus advertisements, spreading voluntary citizen participation.

Additionally, the city opened an online petition section on its official website to encourage citizen involvement, and Choi Jong-yoon, a member of the National Assembly (Democratic Party) who led the launch of the Attraction Committee, served as its advisory chairman, holding weekly local offices to collect signatures from citizens.

The city council also held a regular session and adopted an appeal titled "Appeal for the Promotion of the Original Plan for the Gyeonggi Province East-West (Gimpo-Bucheon-Seoul-Hanam) Metropolitan Express Railway (GTX-D)."

Mayor Kim Sang-ho of Hanam emphasized, "The GTX-D line extension from Gimpo to Hanam must be realized in terms of balanced development, economic feasibility, and the proper functioning of the express railway," adding, "The petition results reflect the citizens’ legitimate demands and urgent aspirations."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced the '4th National Railway Network Construction Plan (draft)' in April, reducing the jointly proposed GTX-D Gangdong-Hanam route by Hanam City and Gyeonggi Province to Gimpo-Bucheon and excluding the Wirye-Sinsa Line extension to Hanam.

In response, Hanam City has joined forces with the heads of Gimpo, Bucheon, and Gangdong local governments to jointly advocate for the "Reflection of the Original GTX-D Gimpo~Hanam Plan."

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