Mayor Baek Younghyeon: "GTX-G Is a Growth Engine for Northern Gyeonggi"... All-Out Efforts for Inclusion in the 5th Railway Network Plan

Baek Younghyeon, Mayor of Pocheon, Hosts National Assembly Forum on GTX-G
Emphasizes "Key Task for Balanced Development in the Greater Seoul Area"

Pocheon City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Baek Younghyun) announced on October 27 that a National Assembly forum on the topic of "Introduction Plan for the GTX-G Line for Balanced Development of the Seoul Metropolitan Area" was successfully held at Conference Room 2 of the National Assembly Members' Office Building.

Baek Younghyun, Mayor of Pocheon, is holding a National Assembly forum on the 27th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building, Conference Room 2, on the topic of "Introduction Plan for the GTX-G Line for Balanced Development of the Seoul Metropolitan Area." Provided by Pocheon City

This forum was co-hosted by National Assembly members Kim Yongtae (Pocheon and Gapyeong), Kim Byungjoo (Namyangju-eul), Lee Jaegang (Uijeongbu-eul), and Lim Ohkyung (Gwangmyeong-gap), and organized by Pocheon City. More than 180 participants, including local government officials, experts in the railway and transportation sectors, and citizens, attended, demonstrating strong interest in the promotion of the GTX-G project.

The forum aimed to have the GTX-G Line included in the "5th National Rail Network Construction Plan (2026-2035)" and served as an in-depth discussion on improving transportation accessibility in northern Gyeonggi Province and addressing the imbalance within the Seoul metropolitan area.

Choo Sangho, professor at Hongik University, who delivered the keynote presentation, stated, "The reality that northern Gyeonggi is a transportation blind spot ultimately entrenches unbalanced growth within the metropolitan area and structurally limits the city's potential," emphasizing that "the introduction of the GTX-G Line is a key task for the balanced development of the entire metropolitan area."

In the subsequent panel discussion, Bae Gimok, professor at Daejin University, served as moderator, with Kim Kibum, Director of the Railway, Port, and Logistics Bureau of Gyeonggi Province; Kim Yeongyu, former Director of the Railway Division at the Korea Transport Institute; Han Seungyong, Vice President of Sambo Engineering; and Lee Minhyeong, Chairman of the GTX Pocheon Promotion Committee, participating as experts and citizen representatives to discuss policy directions.

The panelists agreed that "improving accessibility to downtown Seoul will simultaneously lead to revitalization of the local economy, population influx, and balanced development," and that "the GTX-G Line is a core infrastructure supporting the long-term development of the metropolitan area."

In his welcoming remarks, Baek Younghyun, Mayor of Pocheon, stressed, "The GTX-G Line is a national joint task for balanced development of the metropolitan area and strengthening national competitiveness," adding, "It will go beyond the simple expansion of the transportation network to become a new growth engine for northern Gyeonggi."

Meanwhile, the GTX-G Line is a rapid transit railway section of 84.4 kilometers, reflected in the "GTX Plus Line (draft)" announced by Gyeonggi Province in April 2024. The route connects Songu in Pocheon to Uijeongbu, Namyangju, Guri, Konkuk University Station, Nonhyeon, Sadang, KTX Gwangmyeong Station, and extends to Sungui in Incheon.

Pocheon City proposed its inclusion in the "5th National Rail Network Construction Plan (2026-2035)" through Gyeonggi Province in May 2024 and plans to continue efforts for the timely promotion of the GTX-G Line through policy proposals, citizen participation, and consultations with the central government.

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