KTX Honam Line to Increase Service for First Time in 10 Years... Two Trains Extended to Gwangju Songjeong

Jung Junho: "Service Expansion Begins on the 17th"

The KTX Honam Line will be expanded for the first time in 10 years since its opening. With the extension of the service section to Gwangju Songjeong Station, long-standing transportation demands of residents in the Gwangju and South Jeolla regions are expected to be partially addressed.

Gwangju Songjeong Station exterior. Provided by Korea Rail Network Authority

Jung Junho, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea representing Buk-gu Gap in Gwangju, announced the previous day, "For the first time since 2015, the Honam Line KTX will increase its service frequency. Starting from the 17th, two KTX-Sancheon trains-one in each direction-out of the four currently operating between Yongsan and Iksan will be extended to Gwangju Songjeong Station."

He added, "After ongoing consultations between my office and Korea Railroad Corporation, the plan has entered the implementation phase. We will broaden and improve transportation routes for Gwangju and South Jeolla residents."

The Honam Line has faced disadvantages in terms of travel time and fares since the Osong junction decision in 2005, and it opened 11 years later than the Gyeongbu Line, in 2015. Since then, persistent imbalance in service frequency and train allocation has led to ongoing criticism of regional discrimination.

Previously, Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong, the five district chiefs, and the chairs of the Gwangju City Council and Gwangsan District Council held a rally at Gwangju Songjeong Station in September, pointing out, "While only one additional train is added to the Honam Line on weekends compared to weekdays, the Gyeongbu Line sees 21 additional trains-a 20-fold difference."

They further stated, "Even during peak hours, the Honam Line operates 13 times on both weekdays and weekends, but the Gyeongbu Line runs 27 times on weekdays and 31 times on weekends. The KTX-1, with 955 seats, is concentrated on the Gyeongbu Line, whereas the Honam Line mainly uses the KTX-Sancheon, which has only 379 seats-half the capacity." They demanded, "On weekends, during peak times, and holidays, the operation of larger-capacity KTX-1 or double-connected KTX-Sancheon trains should be expanded, and trains currently routed via Seodaejeon should be replaced with trains on the Honam High-Speed Line."

On October 4th, over 100 members of the Democratic Party of Korea from the Gwangju region, including Gwangju Mayor Kang Gi-jung, local council members, and key party members, shouted slogans urging the increase of KTX services at Gwangju Songjeong Station. Photo by Min Chanki

Earlier last month, Mayor Kang met with Kim Yoonduk, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and officially requested the expansion, emphasizing the need for fair and non-discriminatory KTX Honam Line operations. The Democratic Party of Korea's Gwangju City Chapter also held a performance event urging the expansion, alongside a Chuseok homecoming welcome event.