Kim Eun-hye Announces 'Rail Network Expansion and Regional Advanced Valleys'... Unveils 'Kim Eun-hye's Gyeonggi Northern Growth Strategy'

Kim Eun-hye, the preliminary candidate for governor of Gyeonggi Province from the People Power Party, is explaining plans such as the expansion of railway and road networks in northern Gyeonggi during a pledge announcement held at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Northern Office on the 20th. [Kim Eun-hye Election Campaign]

원본보기 아이콘

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Kim Eun-hye, the preliminary candidate for governor of Gyeonggi Province from the People Power Party, announced the 'Kim Eun-hye-style Northern Gyeonggi Growth Strategy,' which focuses on expanding and expediting road and rail transportation networks and establishing large-scale advanced industrial technovalleys by region.

On the 20th, Kim Eun-hye held a press conference at the Northern Office of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government and pledged, "Residents of the 11 cities and counties in northern Gyeonggi have been forced to endure unilateral sacrifice and suffering since immediately after the Korean War, and due to overlapping regulations, proper regional development has not been achieved."

Kim's development strategy for the railway sector includes promptly extending the Seoul subway to nearby northern areas and accelerating the early commencement of the GTX-F northern line, a key pledge of President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol.

Kim stated, "We will establish the new Line 9 West Line connecting Gimpo Airport through Goyang City (Janghang, Gajwa, Songsan) to the Paju Publishing Complex, and re-promote the northwest extension of the Shinbundang Line connecting Goyang City's Samsong district and Yongsan in cooperation with Seoul City."

She added, "We will also work with the central government to extend Seoul subway lines 5, 6, 7, and 8 into northern Gyeonggi, as pledged by President-elect Yoon."

Additionally, plans include constructing an underground expressway connecting Daehwa-dong in Goyang City to Hannam Bridge on the Gyeongbu Expressway and building a highway linking the Namyangju junction to the Jayuro Gangmae interchange, in consultation with Seoul City.

Furthermore, Kim pledged to reduce tolls on the Seoul-Munsan Expressway (Paju-Goyang-Seoul) and the Seoul Northern Expressway (Pocheon-Namyangju-Seoul-Guri), promote the free use of the Ilsan Bridge, expedite the completion of the Metropolitan Area 2nd Ring Expressway, and advance the Seoul-Yeoncheon Expressway project.

'Kim Eun-hye's Growth Strategy for Northern Gyeonggi' [Kim Eun-hye Election Camp]

원본보기 아이콘

Kim also revealed plans to create three triangular belts connecting technovalleys by dividing northern Gyeonggi into western (Goyang, Gimpo, Paju), central (Uijeongbu, Yangju, Dongducheon), and eastern (Namyangju, Guri, Pocheon) regions.

In the western region, an advanced international triangular belt will be established, and designation as an economic free zone will be pursued.

It will attract campuses of renowned foreign universities, world-class R&D centers, and startups, and introduce new-concept eco-friendly transportation such as the hyperloop (future ultra-high-speed train) and GTX, connecting to Incheon International Airport. The ongoing Gimpo Technovalley will be expanded into an international R&D technovalley.

In the central region, a design convergence triangular belt will be created, developing 29 U.S. military return sites into design and IT campuses.

On approximately 80,000 pyeong of land at the subway Line 7 train depot site, an advanced design technovalley will be established, attracting renowned industrial design universities and fostering the advancement of the lifestyle consumer goods industry.

In the eastern region, a food bio triangular belt will be formed, attracting medical and nursing colleges to become a hub for advanced bioindustry and food tech, key sectors of the 4th industrial revolution.

Kim said, "Through the Northern Gyeonggi growth strategy, advanced industries will develop like in Pangyo Technovalley, jobs will increase, and northern Gyeonggi will become a place where young people want to come."

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.