Byungyong Ahn and Hanjung Kim Join Forces for the 'Northeastern Gyeonggi Renaissance'... Announce Regional Policy Alliance

by Lee jonggu

Published 20 Apr.2026 16:03(KST)

Byungyong Ahn, Uijeongbu Mayoral Pre-candidate, and Hanjung Kim, Namyangju Mayoral Pre-candidate
Sign a "Joint Policy Agreement" for 1.2 Million Citizens
United Front to Prioritize "Subway Line 8 Extension to Uijeongbu"
Pledge to Build an "Advanced Industry and Economic Belt" Linking Returned Military Base Sites and Wangsuk New Town

The two pre-candidates for mayor of Uijeongbu and Namyangju, key hub cities in the northeastern part of the Seoul metropolitan area, have formed a strong policy alliance to address long-standing regional challenges.

Democratic Party preliminary candidates An Byung-yong, mayor of Uijeongbu, and Kim Han-jung, mayor of Namyangju, signed a "Joint Policy Agreement for Transportation and Economic Renaissance in Northeastern Gyeonggi" on the 20th, representing the wishes of 1.2 million citizens of both cities. Photo provided by candidate An Byung-yong

On April 20, Byungyong Ahn, Democratic Party pre-candidate for Uijeongbu Mayor, and Hanjung Kim, pre-candidate for Namyangju Mayor, signed a Joint Policy Agreement for the Transportation and Economic Renaissance of Northeastern Gyeonggi, reflecting the aspirations of 1.2 million citizens in both cities. This agreement was designed to help the two cities shed their image as peripheral areas of the metropolitan region and take a leap forward as central hubs for Korea's economy and transportation.

The three core tasks outlined and resolved in the agreement are as follows: ▲ Making the extension of Subway Line 8 from Byeollae in Namyangju to Uijeongbu (Tapseok~Minrak~Gosan) the top priority in the '5th National Rail Network Construction Plan'; ▲ Establishing a new GTX-G line connecting Pocheon, Uijeongbu, Namyangju, Guri, and Seoul, and strengthening the linkages with the first and second metropolitan ring expressways; ▲ Building an 'advanced industry and economic belt' connecting the two cities, so that the state-led development of the Uijeongbu returned military base sites and the construction of the Wangsuk New Town in Namyangju can generate synergistic effects.

At the signing ceremony, Byungyong Ahn emphasized, "Bringing Subway Line 8, currently ending at Byeollae Station in Namyangju, to Uijeongbu is a massive national project that cannot be achieved by the efforts of a single city alone. Both local governments must unite and persistently persuade the central government and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport."

He continued, "We do not have time to sit in the mayor's office and simply get acquainted with our work. Drawing on twelve years of thorough administrative expertise and strong leadership, I will work together with Namyangju to ensure that the extension of Line 8 and the GTX-G line are definitely included in this year's finalized 5th National Rail Network Construction Plan. The strong alliance forged today between Uijeongbu and Namyangju will mark a historic first step toward ushering in a new renaissance for northeastern Gyeonggi."

A campaign official commented that this decisive policy partnership with the Namyangju candidate adds powerful momentum to the key pledge of 'expanding the metropolitan transportation network,' and once again proves Byungyong Ahn's 'demonstrated stature and political capability' to communicate smoothly with other local governments and to lead such projects.