Ruling and Opposition Parties Competitively Pledge 'Urban Rail Undergrounding'... What About Funding Plans?

A Recurring Issue in General and Presidential Elections
Large-Scale Funding and Other Problems
Proposals Like 'Cheoldo BujI Development'
Remain at an Abstract Level

Both ruling and opposition parties competitively promised "undergrounding of urban sections" as a pledge for the general election. The aim is to resolve the issue that has effectively divided regions by cutting through urban areas, including the metropolitan area, but the measures for securing funding remain limited to the level of "railroad site development."

On the 31st, Han Dong-hoon, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, visited Suwon and announced transportation policies including the undergrounding of railroads near the Cheoncheon-dong overpass. On the 1st, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, visited Sindorim Station in Seoul and announced a pledge for "undergrounding of urban railroad sections." The locations where each party announced their pledges are places where the Gyeongbu Line railroad or above-ground railways cut through the area, causing regional disconnection. The plan is to underground urban railroads that have hindered regional development like a stigma and solve the problems of underdevelopment.

Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung is inspecting the above-ground railway at Sindorim Station on the 1st.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Democratic Party pledged to underground sections such as the Incheon Line (Guro Station~Incheon Station), Gyeongwon Line (Cheongnyangni~Dobongsan~Uijeongbu Station), Gyeongui Line (Seoul Station~Susaek Station, Susaek~Munsan urban sections), Gyeongui-Jungang Line (Yongsan Station~Cheongnyangni~Urban Station), Gyeongchun Line (Cheongnyangni Station~Sinnae Station, Chuncheon Station urban sections), and Gyeongbu Line (Seoul Station~Uiwang~Suwon~Byeongjeom, Cheonan urban section, Pyeongtaek urban section) in the metropolitan area. They also promised undergrounding for urban sections of railroads in other regions. These areas include Hwamyung~Busan Station in Busan, Hoedeok~Panam IC (Gyeongbu Line), Jochajang~Gasuwon Station (Honam Line) in Daejeon, Seodaegu Station~Dongdaegu Station in Daegu, Gwangju Station~Songjeong Station, and Jeonju Station urban sections in Honam. Additionally, lines such as Line 2 (Sindorim Station~Sillim Station, Hanyang University Station~Jamsil Station, Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station~Hapjeong Station, Sindap Station~Seongsu Station), Line 3 (Oksu Station~Apgujeong Station), Line 4 (Geumjeong~Daeyami, Sangnoksu~Choji, Dongjak Station~Ichon Station, Ssangmun~Danggogae), and Line 7 (Konkuk University Station~Cheongdam Station) are included. The Democratic Party also announced GTX and other projects as pledges.

Earlier, the People Power Party also proposed undergrounding railroads that cause urban disconnection in major cities nationwide and integrated development as a pledge. They also pledged to transform aging old downtown areas into 15-minute living zones linked with parks, workplaces, residences, and convenience facilities. Furthermore, they proposed introducing metropolitan express trains in major regions nationwide to create a one-hour living zone.

People Power Party Emergency Response Committee Chairman Han Dong-hoon listens to residents' difficulties on the pedestrian overpass in Jangan-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do on the 31st.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

This issue, which is both a regional development measure and a housing and transportation policy, has been a long-standing issue mentioned repeatedly during general and presidential elections. However, the large-scale funding required for development has always been a problem. Yet, the funding measures presented by both parties remain abstract. Chairman Han said the day before regarding funding, "Since it is achieved through attracting private investment, funding is not a big problem." The Democratic Party stated that they would promote the project by revising related laws to increase building coverage ratio and floor area ratio in development sections, and improve preliminary feasibility study guidelines to encompass economic feasibility and regional balanced development beyond the existing benefit assessment methods.

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