Korea Rail Network Authority Announces 'Railway Idle Land Utilization Project' Contest

The Korea Rail Network Authority announced on the 27th that it is calling for local governments to participate in the 'Railroad Idle Land Utilization Project.'

This project is promoted to transform nationally owned railroad idle lands, such as abandoned railway sites and areas under bridges, into resident-friendly spaces like barefoot walking trails and sports parks, by receiving and reviewing proposals from local governments in collaboration with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

The target sites for the call include major railroad idle lands along the Gyeongjeon Line, Jeolla Line, Donghae Nambu Line, and Jungang Line.

Based on proposals received by June, the Korea Rail Network Authority will conduct a practical evaluation in August and hold the Railroad Idle Land Utilization Deliberation Committee in September to finalize the selection of participating local governments. Separately, applications for project participation can be submitted year-round starting from the 27th.

The Railroad Idle Land Utilization Project has been held annually since 2015. So far, 42 local governments have participated, promoting a total of 74 projects. Local governments selected through the call can use the railroad idle lands free of charge for up to 20 years.

Lee Seong-hae, President of the Korea Rail Network Authority, stated, “Unused railroad idle lands are valuable resources that can be used for regional development,” and added, “We hope many local governments show interest and propose utilization plans that can improve the quality of life for the public.”

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