Damyang-gun Passes First Milestone in Resolving 77-Year-Long Railway Wish Project

Gwangju~Daegu Dalbit Inland Railroad Confirmed in 4th National Railroad Network Plan... Welcoming Statement Issued

[Damyang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] Damyang County in Jeonnam expressed its welcome for the confirmation of the Gwangju~Daegu Dalbit Inland Railway as part of the National Railway Network Construction Plan, stating that the first hurdle has been cleared for the railway project that local residents have longed for 77 years.

The Damyang railway originally opened in 1922, operating a 36.5km section of the Jeonnam Line between Songjeong-ri~Gwangju~Damyang, with six round trips daily.

Although it was closed in 1944, the route has held a painful history, and the metropolitan railway between Gwangju and Daegu was repeatedly excluded from the railway network plan due to low economic feasibility.

When the Dalbit Inland Railway was announced as not included in the draft National Railway Network Construction Plan, Damyang County and the County Council issued a joint petition in May urging the central government to include it in the plan. This petition was submitted to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport along with joint petitions from the heads of 10 local governments along the route.

County Governor Choi Hyungsik said, “With the Dalbit Inland Railway finally included in the National Railway Network Construction Plan, once completed, the connection from Mokpo~Gwangju~Damyang~Daegu will facilitate active exchanges in industry, logistics, and cultural tourism, creating a groundbreaking opportunity for regional balanced development through expanded economic cooperation.”

He added, “The establishment of the Dalbit Inland Railway is a long-cherished project for the residents of Damyang County. To ensure early commencement of the project, we will actively respond together with the heads of local governments along the route to pass the upcoming preliminary feasibility study.”

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