Seoul Converts Wirye-Sinsa Line to Government-Funded Project... Final Approval from Transport Ministry

Amendment to the Second Seoul Urban Railway Network Construction Plan
Converted to a government-funded project... establishing a stable project foundation
Fast-track preliminary feasibility study in parallel... pursuing administrative and institutional support

The long-awaited Wirye-Sinsa Line light rail project for residents in the southeastern area of Seoul is finally getting on the right track after 18 years. With the passage of an amendment to the Second Urban Railway Network Construction Plan, which converts the project from a privately financed project to a government-funded project, the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to directly implement the Wirye-Sinsa Line project.

On February 13, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it had received final approval from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for the amendment to the Second Seoul Urban Railway Network Construction Plan. This amendment is the result of a comprehensive review of consistency with overall urban railway policy and the feasibility of implementing the project.

Wirye Sinsa Line urban rail map. Seoul City

With this measure, the Wirye-Sinsa Line urban railway construction project will be converted from a private investment project to a government-funded project. The project had been delayed due to changes in external conditions such as rising material costs and interest rate fluctuations, but by establishing a legal basis for converting it from a privately financed project to a government-funded project, a stable foundation for implementation has been secured.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has made every effort to shorten the project procedures by minimizing the time required through simultaneously pursuing the change in the network plan (from private investment to government funding) and the fast-track preliminary feasibility study, in line with the urgency of promoting the Wirye-Sinsa Line route. Generally, it takes at least two years from plan formulation (or amendment) to the preliminary feasibility study, but by proceeding in parallel, the city expects to reduce the required period by more than about one year.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to continue providing administrative and institutional support so that the Wirye-Sinsa Line, which first began to be promoted in 2008 and has secured momentum for the first time in 18 years, can quickly move into the stage of substantive project implementation. In particular, to resolve long-standing demands of local residents and alleviate transportation inconveniences, the city aims to swiftly complete the fast-track preliminary feasibility study by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, which is the follow-up procedure after approval by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and to thoroughly prepare all pre-construction processes such as establishing the basic plan and carrying out design work.

Yeo Jangkwon, Director General for Transportation at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, said, "To complete the Wirye-Sinsa Line light rail project, which has been the long-cherished wish of local residents for about 18 years, we will ensure that the remaining procedures, including the preliminary feasibility study and the basic plan, proceed smoothly and without setbacks," adding, "Taking the public notice of this amendment to the Second Seoul Urban Railway Network Construction Plan as a starting point, we will concentrate all administrative capacity on promoting the railway project so that it can play a pivotal role in the transportation network of southeastern Seoul."

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