Jeonggwan Line Urban Railway Finally Clears Preliminary Feasibility Review... Eastern Busan Transport Map to Change

Busan–Yangsan–Ulsan metropolitan railway connected to the "Donghae Line"

A key route to complete the circular railway network in eastern Busan

The construction of the Jeonggwan Line urban railway, a long-awaited project for residents in the eastern Busan area, has finally passed the preliminary feasibility study.

The Busan Metropolitan City Government (Mayor Park Heongjoon) announced on the 12th that the Jeonggwan Line urban railway construction project passed the preliminary feasibility study after deliberation by the Fiscal Project Evaluation Committee of the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

The Jeonggwan Line is a project aimed at easing traffic congestion in Jeonggwan New Town and the surrounding Gijang-gun area and establishing a circular transportation network that connects metropolitan railways and urban railways. It was included as a pledge of the 8th popularly elected municipal administration. During the government’s preliminary feasibility review, issues such as insufficient economic viability were raised, making approval difficult. In response, the city supplemented the project plan through review meetings with the Korea Development Institute (KDI) and the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and adopted a strategy centered on a comprehensive evaluation (AHP) that emphasized policy effectiveness and the impact on balanced regional development.

The Jeonggwan Line project will build 13 stations and 1 depot along a 12.8 km section from Wolpyeong-ri in Jeonggwan-eup, Gijang-gun, through Jeonggwan New Town, to Jwacheon Station on the Donghae Line. It will establish transfer connections with two lines: the Busan–Yangsan–Ulsan metropolitan railway and the Donghae Line, and it is scheduled to be operated as a catenary-free tram, an eco-friendly next-generation transit system. The total project cost is 479.4 billion won (227.6 billion won from the central government, 151.8 billion won from the city, and 100.0 billion won from Gijang-gun). The project period is from 2023 to 2032.

The city plans to launch a service for the feasibility assessment and formulation of the basic plan within the first half of this year. It has allocated 1.0 billion won in the 2026 main budget for this project and aims to start construction in 2028 and begin operations in 2032 after completing the basic plan and administrative procedures.

Mayor Park Heongjoon said, "The Jeonggwan Line is a key project that will complete the circular railway network in the eastern Busan area by connecting the Busan–Yangsan–Ulsan metropolitan railway and the Donghae Line," adding, "By introducing an eco-friendly catenary-free tram, it will also contribute to revitalizing the local economy and enhancing the city brand."

Jeonggwansun project location map.

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