Yeongyang-gun Builds Transportation Network... Dreaming of an Open Future

Building a transportation network is like forming a link between regions.

The road infrastructure created through these links greatly influences the improvement of environments where vicious cycles such as population outflow, public institution outflow, economic recession, and lack of medical facilities can repeat.

Yeongyang-gun, Gyeongbuk Province, currently faces a life-threatening situation for its residents as it takes over an hour to reach the nearest emergency medical center due to insufficient road infrastructure. The county itself is also on the front line of local extinction, turning the anxiety that had lingered in the back of minds into reality.

The geographically and topographically isolated conditions, which have caused a faster population decline compared to other local governments, have not left Yeongyang-gun idle in trying to escape the current situation.

It is urgent to break through the long-neglected North-South 9-axis expressway (Yeongcheon to Gangwon), which has been left unattended for half a century, and include it in the construction of a densely woven expressway network to secure a sustainable growth foundation and alleviate anxiety.

In June last year, at the regular general meeting of the ‘North-South 9-axis Expressway Promotion Council,’ Yeongyang-gun decided to submit a national petition for the early construction of the expressway. To convey the earnest voices of residents from 10 cities and counties to the central government, they gathered voices from 10 cities and counties (a total of 15,134 people) in the form of a ‘Maninso’ petition and delivered it to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on October 22.

The wish of the 10 cities and counties, which are simultaneously facing the crisis of local extinction, was reflected in the ‘3rd Expressway Construction Plan Priority Projects’ and included a plea for exemption from the preliminary feasibility study. This petition expressed the public’s hope that the central government would positively review the project from the perspective of regional balanced development rather than just economic feasibility.

In addition, residents voluntarily posted more than 100 banners urging the construction of the expressway, raising the local atmosphere and informing outsiders traveling to and from Yeongyang-gun.

On October 15, about 10,000 residents gathered at the public stadium to hold a ‘County-wide General Resolution Rally’ urging the construction of the North-South 9-axis expressway. With a united will, they are doing their best to convey the urgent voices from the field to the central government and political circles.

All-Citizen Resolution Rally. Provided by Yeongyang County

Encouraged by this, the county is preparing to create opportunities such as expert seminars and statements urging construction in the first half of this year, with the cooperation of 10 mayors, county heads, and members of the National Assembly to elicit responses from the government and political circles.

The estimated project cost for the North-South 9-axis expressway construction is about 14.887 trillion KRW. Upon completion, it will pass through a total of 10 cities and counties, serving as a breakthrough connecting Gyeongbuk and Gangwon, and will also help balance the nation’s development, which has been skewed to the west.

The single-track railway project connecting Andong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok from east to west has also been expressed as a continuous proposal to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport together with Gyeongbuk Province to be included in the 5th National Railway Network Construction Plan.

County Governor Oh Do-chang stated, “A metropolitan transportation network is the most effective way to resolve the inconveniences experienced by our residents and will alleviate the anxiety in the lives of our residents who are facing the crisis of local extinction.” He added, “I sincerely hope that the central government and political circles will watch this matter with interest so that all these efforts will not be in vain.”

Banner of the Nine North-South Axes. Provided by Yeongyang County

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