Five Local Governments in Jeonnam and Jeonbuk Join Forces for Inclusion of West Coast Railway Construction in National Plan

by Min Chanki

Published 12 Mar.2026 11:12(KST)

Hampyeong County participated in the practical council to urge the inclusion of the West Coast (Saemangeum to Mokpo) railway construction project in the national railway network plan and signed a joint response agreement. Provided by Hampyeong County, Jeonnam

Five cities and counties in the West Coast region, including Hampyeong County in Jeollanam-do (Buan County, Gunsan City, Gochang County, Yeonggwang County, and Hampyeong County), are joining forces for a coordinated response to ensure the inclusion of the West Coast railway construction project in the national development plan.

On March 12, Hampyeong County announced that it participated in the Practical Council for Urging the Inclusion of the West Coast (Saemangeum to Mokpo) Railway Construction Project in the National Railway Network and signed a joint response agreement.

The council meeting, held the previous day in Buan County, followed the first meeting in September last year. The event was attended by key officials from the five cities and counties, including the governors of Buan County and Gochang County, the vice mayor of Gunsan City, the deputy governor of Yeonggwang County, and Kang Hachun, Deputy Governor of Hampyeong County. Discussions focused on the policy necessity of railway construction and cooperation measures for balanced regional development.

The agreement includes the following: advocating for the inclusion of the West Coast railway construction project in the National Railway Network, policy proposals to the central government and National Assembly, and joint research to enhance the benefit-cost (B/C) analysis. Based on this agreement, the five cities and counties plan to strengthen their cooperation framework to promote the railway project and to continuously engage so that the project can be incorporated into the national plan.

Kang Hachun, Deputy Governor of Hampyeong County, stated, "The West Coast railway construction project is a crucial initiative for balanced regional development and the expansion of the transportation network. The five cities and counties will do their utmost, working together to ensure the project's inclusion in the national plan."