Yoon: "New KTX-Cheongryong to be deployed on Gyeongbu and Honam lines from May... Nationwide 2-hour living zone"

'20th Anniversary of High-Speed Rail Opening' Ceremony
New KTX-Cheongryong Unveiled
Top Speed 320 km/h
Fastest High-Speed Train

President Yoon Suk-yeol is participating in a commemorative ceremony at the 20th anniversary celebration of the high-speed rail (KTX) opening, held on the 1st at the Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) headquarters in Dong-gu, Daejeon.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol attended the 20th anniversary ceremony of the high-speed railway opening held at the Korea Railroad Corporation headquarters in Daejeon on the morning of the 1st, stating, "Building on the great achievements of 20 years of high-speed rail, we will start a newer, faster, and more convenient 'railroad revolution,'" and added, "We will expand the high-speed rail network nationwide to realize a '2-hour living zone across the country.'"

Before the ceremony, President Yoon named the newly unveiled KTX at the Daejeon Station platform "Cheongryong." Cheongryong was selected through a public contest with the meaning of soaring vigorously in the Year of the Blue Dragon and bringing hope to the people.

The KTX-Cheongryong has a maximum operating speed of 320 km/h, making it the fastest high-speed train in Korea. Notably, it is the first 300 km/h-class distributed power high-speed train designed and manufactured with domestic technology. Compared to the existing KTX-Sancheon and Sancheon II, it offers wider passenger cabins and seating space, enhancing convenience for railway users. President Yoon explained, "It has excellent speed control capabilities, optimized for Korea's railway environment with short distances between stops and many curves," and added, "Above all, it achieved 100% localization in the entire train manufacturing process, including design, engineering, and design, and raised the localization rate of parts to 87%."

President Yoon also emphasized, "When Korea first introduced the French high-speed train in 1994, French researchers predicted that 'localization of Korea's high-speed trains would be impossible,'" and continued, "Contrary to their prediction, Korea produced the KTX-Sancheon in 2008, becoming the fourth country in the world to develop and commercialize high-speed trains." He further highlighted, "Now, we independently produce and operate the 320 km/h-class KTX, and although the track infrastructure is still insufficient for commercialization, we have developed a 430 km/h-class high-speed train, becoming a true railway powerhouse."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon stated, "The government will firmly improve the operation method of high-speed rail so that the KTX-Cheongryong can run more vigorously," and announced that the KTX-Cheongryong unveiled that day will be deployed on the Gyeongbu and Honam lines starting in May, expanding the 'express high-speed train' service that reduces travel time by up to 30 minutes. The express high-speed train minimizes stops to 1-2 stations, allowing travel from Seoul to Busan in about 2 hours and 10 minutes, and from Yongsan to Gwangju in about 1 hour and 30 minutes. It plans to begin pilot operations four times a day on the Gyeongbu Line and twice a day on the Honam Line. He added, "When the double-tracking between Pyeongtaek and Osong is completed in 2028, increasing track capacity, we will establish a solid foundation within my term to increase the frequency of express trains."

President Yoon promised to accelerate the speed revolution, saying, "We live in an era where speed determines competitiveness," and pledged to expand the high-speed rail network nationwide to realize a "2-hour living zone across the country." He said, "We will complete the Incheon-Suwon KTX direct connection project within my term, enabling direct travel from Incheon and Suwon to Busan and Mokpo by KTX. This year, we will open the last sections of the Jungang Line high-speed project, including the Andong-Yeongcheon section, the Donghae Line Pohang-Samcheok section, and the Seohae Line Hongseong-Songsan section." By 2027, the second phase of the Honam High-Speed Railway between Gwangju and Mokpo and the East-West High-Speed Railway between Chuncheon and Sokcho will also open smoothly, aiming to usher in an "era of local regions where it is good to live anywhere."

The event was attended by representatives of railway users, including the public, government and related agencies such as Park Sang-woo, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Han Moon-hee, President of Korea Railroad Corporation; local government officials including Lee Jang-woo, Mayor of Daejeon; and from the Presidential Office, Policy Chief Sung Tae-yoon, Economic Chief Park Chun-seop, and Science and Technology Chief Park Sang-wook.

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