Gwangju Urban Rail Network Wins Government Approval... Full-Scale Push for Gwangcheon-Sangmu Line

With the Gwangju urban rail network construction plan entering the government's final approval process, the promotion of the Gwangcheon-Sangmu Line is gaining full momentum. As a new urban rail line that will connect the east-west axis of Gwangju, the subsequent administrative procedures are expected to speed up.

On the 11th, Gwangju City announced that the "First Urban Rail Network Construction Plan (Gwangcheon-Sangmu Urban Rail Line)," which it submitted to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in February last year, has passed the review of the National Transport Commission under the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and is now awaiting the ministry's final approval and official announcement.

Gwangcheon-Sangmu Line route map. Provided by Gwangju City.

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According to the Urban Rail Act, metropolitan local governments must establish a 10-year urban rail network construction plan for the construction and operation of urban rail, and obtain the approval of the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport after review by the National Transport Commission.

This successful review is a key step in advancing the Gwangcheon-Sangmu Urban Rail Line. It will be followed by subsequent administrative procedures, including a preliminary feasibility study, a feasibility study, and the establishment of a basic plan.

The Gwangcheon-Sangmu Urban Rail Line is an east-west cross-city route of 7.78 kilometers, with a total project cost of 692.5 billion won. It will connect Sangmu Station, pass through the Gwangcheon area, and extend to the rear entrance of Gwangju Station. It has been planned as a core transport measure to relieve chronic traffic congestion in the Gwangcheon area and to realize a "city for public transport, bicycles, and pedestrians (Dae-Ja-Bo city)" centered on public transportation, cycling, and walking.

The line will also connect areas whose existing transport accessibility has been relatively weak, such as Gwangju General Bus Terminal and Gwangju Kia Champions Field. In connection with large-scale development projects in the Gwangcheon area, including the construction of a mixed-use shopping mall scheduled to open in 2028, it is expected to help resolve transport issues and revitalize the local economy.

Gwangju City expects that linking the new line with the existing Urban Rail Lines 1 and 2 will improve the efficiency of public transportation, while also contributing to the reorganization of the urban spatial structure, carbon neutrality, and the realization of transport welfare.

Mayor Kang Gijung of Gwangju City said, "Taking the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's final approval and official announcement as a starting point, we will proceed smoothly with subsequent administrative procedures such as the preliminary feasibility study and materialize the construction project for the Gwangcheon-Sangmu Urban Rail Line as quickly as possible."

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