Park Wansu Pledges Dense Metropolitan Transportation Network 'G-Link 3.0' Connecting South Gyeongsang, Busan, and Ulsan

Park Wansu, the preliminary candidate of the People Power Party seeking re-election as Governor of South Gyeongsang Province, has announced a plan to establish the 'South Gyeongsang-type Metropolitan Transportation Network,' which will connect major hubs within the province to Busan and Ulsan.

On May 6, Park held a press conference at the provincial government press center, stating, "We will create a metropolitan transportation network in South Gyeongsang that links the eastern cities of Changwon, Gimhae, and Yangsan to Busan and Ulsan, as well as interconnecting major regions of the province in a grid-like web."

He emphasized, "It is just as important to introduce new public transportation routes and adjust service intervals according to residents' needs as it is to build new roads and rail lines." Park proposed the 'G-Link 3.0,' a South Gyeongsang-style metropolitan express bus system.

This pledge envisions an integrated transportation system that connects roads, railways, and people across South Gyeongsang, with the core goal of seamlessly linking metropolitan buses and trains, similar to the greater Seoul area.

Park Wansu, a preliminary candidate for governor of South Gyeongsang Province from the People Power Party, who is seeking re-election, is announcing a campaign pledge to establish a 'Gyeongnam-type metropolitan transportation network.'
[Photo by Lee Seryeong]

Park first outlined the operation of a new metropolitan express bus brand for South Gyeongsang: GTG (Gyeongnam to Gyeongnam), GTB (Gyeongnam to Busan), and GTU (Gyeongnam to Ulsan).

GTG will provide express service connecting major hubs within South Gyeongsang Province and will operate on two routes, A and B.

Route A will cover a 50-kilometer stretch from Changwon Station through Sangnam-dong, Namsan Terminal, Jangyu in Gimhae, Gimhae City Hall, Mulgeum, and Bukjeong. Route B will run a 110-kilometer route passing through Hapcheon Station, Jinju Station, Changwon Station, and the intercity bus terminal.

Park also plans to establish a transfer system connecting city and intercity buses of nearby cities and counties at transfer hubs such as Hapcheon Station, Jinju Station, Changwon Station, and the intercity bus terminal, where the train lines and GTG B route intersect.

Through this, he aims to diversify bus routes connecting various regions and reduce service intervals, making it possible for people to travel throughout South Gyeongsang within an hour using public transportation.

GTB will connect Busan, with GTB A linking Sangmundong in Geoje to Busan Station. The GTG B route will connect Gimhae to Busan and Yangsan to Busan, linking major hubs in those cities.

Additionally, major transfer stations will be established at key hubs with high population flows, such as Changwon Station, Jangyu Station, and Mulgeum Station, where buses, trains, and light rail intersect.

Transfer times between buses and trains will be coordinated using artificial intelligence, reducing the transfer waiting time during rush hours to around 10 minutes.

Furthermore, by integrating with the 'Gyeongnam Pass,' a public transportation discount system for South Gyeongsang residents, metropolitan transfer discounts will be applied across GTG, GTB, GTU, as well as the light rail and train services.

Campaign materials for "Gyeongnam-style Metropolitan Transportation Network G-Link 3.0" promised by Park Wansoo, a preliminary candidate for governor of Gyeongnam Province from the People Power Party, who is seeking re-election. [Provided by Park Wansoo Candidate's Election Office]

Park also announced plans to promote a 'grid-type metropolitan transportation network' that would mesh four east-west corridors and five north-south corridors, interlinking South Gyeongsang and the southeastern region like a net.

The four east-west corridors are: Corridor 1 - Gwangju, Hamyang, Geochang, Hapcheon, Daegu; Corridor 2 - Jeonju, Hamyang, Sancheong, Uiryeong, Changnyeong, Miryang, Ulsan; Corridor 3 - Suncheon, Hadong, Jinju, Changwon, Gimhae, Busan; Corridor 4 - Namhae, Sacheon, Tongyeong, Geoje, Busan.

The five north-south corridors are: Corridor 1 - Daejeon, Hamyang, Sancheong, Hadong, Namhae; Corridor 2 - Gimcheon, Hapcheon, Jinju, Sacheon, Goseong, Tongyeong, Geoje; Corridor 3 - Changnyeong, Changwon, Gadeokdo New Airport; Corridor 4 - Daegu, Miryang, Gimhae, Changwon, Gadeokdo New Airport; Corridor 5 - Gimhae, Yangsan, Ulsan, Busan.

In addition, the four-lane east-west Corridor 3 (Chilwon, Changwon, Jinyeong) and north-south Corridor 5 (Gimhae Airport, Daedong Expressway) will be expanded to six lanes, and existing six-lane routes will be expanded to eight lanes.

Projects such as the four-lane expressway between Busan New Port and Gimhae, as well as 18 metropolitan roads including the South Coast Island Link Marine Highway, whose route was finalized in July last year, will be constructed quickly or expanded or newly established.

Along with this, the partial opening of the double-track rail line between Bujeon and Masan is scheduled for the first half of 2027. The simultaneous introduction of KTX-Eum and KTX-Eum services, the Busan-Yangsan-Ulsan metropolitan railway, the Gimhae-Yangsan-Ulsan southeastern circular metropolitan railway, and the construction of the Changwon-Gadeokdo CTX-Jinhae Line will also proceed in parallel.

Campaign materials for the 'Gyeongnam-style Metropolitan Transportation Network G-Link 3.0' construction pledge presented by Park Wansu, the preliminary candidate for governor of Gyeongsangnam-do from the People Power Party, who is running for re-election. [Provided by Park Wansu Candidate's Campaign Office]

Park also expressed his intention to further reduce the toll burden for the Geoga Bridge and Machang Bridge.

He stated, "Since the first year of the 8th popularly elected administration, we have been offering a 20% toll discount on the Geoga Bridge during holidays by utilizing shared profits from refinancing private investment funds. However, the tolls are still a burden to residents. In the 9th administration, we will negotiate with the Busan city government to acquire the operating rights to the Geoga Bridge and resolve the toll burden."

Regarding the Machang Bridge, which currently offers a 32% discount during rush hours, Park said he would consider further reducing tolls for South Gyeongsang residents only.

Park explained, "G-Link 3.0 is not simply a road and rail construction project but a people-centered transportation policy to improve residents' daily commutes. I have made this pledge in the hope that residents can use public transportation more conveniently."

He added, "We will prioritize new express bus routes with high demand among residents and phase in operations by the second half of 2027 at the latest. Just as we incorporated the South Coast Island Link Marine Highway into the national highway system, we will also deliver on this pledge responsibly."

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