[Interview] "We Will Transform into a Rail-Centered Metropolitan Transportation System"… Mayor Shin Dongheon’s Determined Effort to Attract GTX

추진 of 'Village Bus 100% Public Operation', '1,000 Won Taxi Operation', and 'Expansion of Semi-Public Operation for Metropolitan Buses'

Shin Dongheon, Mayor of Gwangju City

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-cheol] "Gwangju City has a population of 400,000, but it is a transportation-disadvantaged area with only the Gyeonggang Line railway passing through.", "Although the distance from Gwangju to Gangnam, Seoul is close, it takes about an hour by public transportation."

In this way, Shin Dong-heon, Mayor of Gwangju City, cited 'public transportation' as the city's biggest issue. Mayor Shin emphasized that the solution to Gwangju's development, which is subject to the most regulations nationwide such as greenbelt zones, water source protection zones, waterfront zones, and military facility protection zones, begins with improving the transportation environment through the introduction of the Metropolitan Express Railway (GTX).

Gwangju City is putting all its efforts into transforming the transportation system into a railway-centered metropolitan transportation system in cooperation with neighboring local governments and is promoting the introduction of GTX. In addition, the city has promised to improve the public transportation system and consider transportation-vulnerable groups by implementing a 100% public operation system for village buses, operating a one-thousand-won taxi service, and expanding the semi-public operation system for metropolitan buses. Our publication interviewed Mayor Shin Dong-heon about the solutions and plans for solving Gwangju City's biggest issue, transportation. [Editor's note]

The following is a Q&A.

- What is the current status of 'transportation infrastructure construction' in Gwangju City this year?

"The biggest issue for Gwangju City is transportation. To disperse traffic volume, we plan to install entry and exit ramps between Seongnam and Janghowon in the mid-to-long term, improve the Gwangju TG intersection, build a new bypass road in Sinhyeon-ri, and establish a circular road network between Hoedeok and Jikdong. We also plan to create the second public parking lot in Gyeongan-dong, a public bus garage in Eommi-ri, and public parking lots in Gyeongan and Gonjiam neighborhood parks to simultaneously solve parking problems in densely populated residential areas and traffic congestion. Recently, the Ibaejae Tunnel on Local Road No. 338 was fully opened, and the ‘Seoul-Gwangju-Yangpyeong Expressway’ project, which starts from Songpa, Seoul, passes through Gwangju Toechon and Namjong, and ends at Yangseo, Yangpyeong, passed the preliminary feasibility study by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The Seoul-Gwangju-Yangpyeong Expressway is expected to be an important road that improves traffic in Gwangju, Hanam, and Yangpyeong, as well as complements the metropolitan area transportation network and alleviates traffic congestion. In particular, the early promotion of the Suseo-Gwangju double-track railway project and the recent inclusion of the Wirye-Samdong Line in the 4th National Railway Network Construction Plan are significant. Additionally, the extension project of the Gyeonggang Line from Samdong to Anseong was selected as an additional review project, increasing the possibility of being reflected in future railway network construction plans. Although the GTX line was not included, we will continue to promote the introduction of GTX in cooperation with neighboring cities and counties to transform the transportation system into a railway-centered metropolitan transportation system. We will lay the foundation for the second phase of urban growth and carefully manage improvements to the public transportation system and consideration for transportation-vulnerable groups by implementing a '100% public operation system for village buses,' 'one-thousand-won taxi operation,' and 'expansion of the semi-public operation system for metropolitan buses.'"

- What if 'GTX' comes to Gwangju City?

"The essence of the GTX project is ‘commuting within 30 minutes in the metropolitan area.’ To achieve this, it is important to include areas in transportation blind spots within the GTX benefit range. Although the distance from Gwangju to Gangnam, Seoul is close, it takes about an hour by public transportation. Therefore, improving Gwangju City's transportation environment through GTX is absolutely necessary. Installing a GTX-A Suseo Station connection line will establish a backbone railway network connecting the north-south railway lines such as the Gyeongbu Line, Honam Line, Suseo-Gwangju Line, Jungbu Inland Railway, and Southern Inland Railway, as well as east-west railway lines such as Incheon Songdo-Gangneung, which will connect to the future north-south (Eurasian) railway, laying the foundation to extend to the continent. I will do my best to ensure that GTX is attracted to Gwangju, which is a 23% underserved area that does not benefit from GTX."

- What is the plan to attract GTX?

"At the public hearing for the 4th National Railway Network Construction Plan, the GTX-D line plan was announced as the Gimpo-Bucheon line. The 21 km GTX from Gimpo to Bucheon cannot fulfill the function of a metropolitan express railway. It must extend through Seoul to the eastern part of Gyeonggi Province to truly serve as a metropolitan express railway. On the 23rd, the mayors of Gwangju, Icheon, Yeoju, and Wonju jointly submitted a petition directly to Minister Noh Hyun-wook of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, requesting the connection of GTX Gwangju-Icheon-Yeoju-Wonju and the installation of the GTX-A Suseo Station connection line. In particular, we emphasized to Minister Noh that not only GTX but also the extension projects of the Gyeonggang Line and Line 8 are very important issues to solve traffic congestion, and requested that these projects be reviewed for inclusion as new projects in the 4th National Railway Network Construction Plan. Regardless of whether GTX-D is included in the 4th National Railway Network Construction Plan, the city plans to continuously promote the introduction of GTX. Currently, a preliminary feasibility study for attracting GTX is underway. Various route plans for establishing Gwangju City's railway network, including the introduction of GTX through the Suseo branch of the GTX-A Suseo-Dongtan line and the extension of the GTX-D Gimpo-Bucheon line, are being reviewed."

- What is Gwangju City's '100% public operation system for village buses,' which is described as the 'first in the metropolitan area'?

"The 100% public operation system for village buses is a system where the city directly manages the operation routes to provide convenient transportation services even in sparsely populated areas. Gwangju City chose the 100% public operation system for village buses as a way to guarantee the mobility rights of citizens in transportation-vulnerable areas from the perspective of transportation welfare. It is not possible to judge which system is better simply by comparing the budgets for private and public systems. Until now, Gwangju City adopted a method where private bus companies operated village buses, and the city supplemented the deficit. From the perspective of private companies, route rights involved unprofitable routes and difficulties in negotiating routes in vulnerable areas, which increased dissatisfaction among public transportation users. Now, the necessity to guarantee the mobility rights of citizens living in transportation-vulnerable areas without being compromised by profitability has grown, which is the reason for introducing the public operation system. By switching to a 100% public operation system and directly operating village buses, the city has broken away from a profit-centered route structure and enabled operation based on citizen convenience. As buses, which are the foundation of public transportation, operate based solely on citizen convenience rather than profit, it is expected that conditions for using public transportation, such as subway transfers in transportation-disadvantaged areas, will improve."

- What are the pros and cons of the '100% public operation system for village buses'?

"The advantage of the 100% public operation system for village buses is that through route sharing, it is possible to rationally reorganize routes in a timely manner by adjusting, establishing, or changing routes according to changes in demand and intermodal connections. In addition, stable route operation enhances the public nature of public transportation and guarantees citizens' convenience in transportation by breaking away from a profit-centered route structure. This ensures that a certain level of public transportation service is provided without discrimination in the region and resolves employment instability caused by the worsening management of transportation workers. Furthermore, in the private system, when demand decreases or is low, the reduction in service directly harms bus users, but the public system provides stable service through normal route operation. Additionally, by having public institutions manage bus routes, revenues, and vehicles, transparency in management can be secured and qualitative improvement can be pursued. The downside is the budget burden due to operating costs for running deficit routes. However, considering the scale of financial support provided annually to private transportation companies and the benefits returned to citizens, it is difficult to view it simply as a deficit. Efficiency or profitability should not be the absolute evaluation criteria in public transportation. It is more valuable to focus on the significant changes that occur after introducing the public operation system rather than just comparing budgets with simple numbers."

- What message do you want to give to citizens?

Gwangju City has endured many sacrifices due to overlapping regulations for more than half a century. The entire city is designated as Special Measures Area I and Natural Conservation Area. It is the area with the most regulations nationwide, including greenbelt zones, water source protection zones, waterfront zones, and military facility protection zones. However, I believe the city's growth potential is limitless. Looking beyond the regulations, Gwangju has a well-preserved natural environment and cultural content thanks to these regulations. We will nurture these well-preserved nature and culture as assets to create new regional competitiveness and promote regional economic revitalization based on them. A representative project is the ‘Gil Project,’ which plans to create a historical and cultural tourism belt consisting of seven courses with a total length of about 120 km connecting Namhansanseong to Cheonjinam from this year until June next year. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the city's elevation and is the first step in designing the millennium Gwangju that must envision the next 20 years of the future Gwangju. The journey to find the brand of 'Neoreungo-eul Gwangju,' where the breath of the thousand-year-old city is felt, will continue, and we will actively promote the construction of a history museum to reestablish Gwangju's status and enhance pride."

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