Councilor Jeong Da-eun Criticizes City for Passive Administration in Songjeong Station Expansion Project

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Although the number of passengers using Gwangju Songjeong Station is increasing, claims have been raised that Gwangju Metropolitan City is taking a passive administrative approach regarding the expansion project of the elevated station building.

According to data from the office of Gwangju City Council member Jeong Da-eun on the 29th, among the 2023 priority management projects prepared by Gwangju City on June 28, the requested amount for 2023 related to the Gwangju Songjeong Station elevated station expansion project was written as 5 billion KRW out of a total project cost (national budget) of 50 billion KRW, but in reality, only 2.5 billion KRW was proposed.

One month later, on July 26, in the national budget support current issues project, Gwangju City changed the total project cost (national budget) to 30 billion KRW (actual 28 billion KRW) and lowered the requested amount for 2023 to 2.5 billion KRW.

This appears to be because they lowered the national budget support amount due to the expectation that if the total project cost exceeds 50 billion KRW, it would be difficult to pass the preliminary feasibility study by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, according to Council member Jeong.

During the first supplementary budget review of the Budget and Accounts Special Committee on the same day, Council member Jeong criticized, “Gwangju City shows no serious consideration or will to promote the Gwangju Songjeong Station elevated station expansion project.”

She continued, “Songjeong Station lacks sufficient station facilities compared to the increasing number of users, causing customer inconvenience and traffic congestion, yet Gwangju City lowered the national budget support request from 50 billion KRW to 30 billion KRW. Moreover, Gwangju City submitted the budget request without consulting local National Assembly members,” she pointed out.

She also claimed, “Once the second phase of the Honam High-Speed Railway is completed and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s double-track projects from Pyeongtaek to Osong and KTX services from Incheon to Suwon open, the number of trains and operations at Songjeong Station will increase, and the number of users will grow further, but Gwangju City is unable to predict such transportation demand.”

She added, “The Gwangju Songjeong Station elevated station expansion project, once completed, will be difficult to expand further for at least 10 years, so it is regrettable that the administration is passive in securing the national budget. Jo O-seop, the only member of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee from the Gwangju region, is negotiating with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Korea Railroad Corporation to secure a budget of 48 billion KRW, but surprisingly, Gwangju City lowered the national budget request to 30 billion KRW,” she said.

Due to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s inaccurate demand forecast, and the rapid increase in passengers after the opening of the Honam High-Speed Railway, the need for early expansion of the Gwangju Songjeong Station building has been raised.

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