South Jeolla and Gwangju Unified Mayoral Candidates Divided Over Metropolitan Railway Using Existing Network

Kim Youngrrok and Min Hyungbae Support, Kang Gijung Opposed
Rebuilding Korea Party and Justice Party Favor Using Existing Railway
Shin Junghoon, Joo Cheolhyeon, Progressive Party, and Basic Income Party Did Not Respond

Differences in positions have emerged between candidates for the United Democratic Party’s South Jeolla and Gwangju Unified Special Mayor primary and major political parties regarding plans to establish a metropolitan railway connecting Gwangju to Mokpo and the Gwangyang Bay Area via the existing railway network (including the new Gyeongjeon Line). According to the results of the public inquiry, candidates Kim Youngrrok and Min Hyungbae, as well as the Rebuilding Korea Party and the Justice Party, expressed support, while candidate Kang Gijung was opposed. Candidates Shin Junghoon and Joo Cheolhyeon, along with the Progressive Party and the Basic Income Party, did not respond.

The Gwangju Citizens’ Coalition and Jeonnam Civil Society Solidarity announced on March 26 the results of candidate and major party responses to the policy for building a “low-cost, high-efficiency metropolitan railway network” connecting Gwangju to Mokpo and the Gwangyang Bay Area using the existing railway network (including confirmed routes such as the new Gyeongjeon Line).

The core of this policy proposal is to utilize existing railway lines, rather than constructing new routes, to establish a metropolitan railway system.

On the key issue of “utilizing the existing railway network,” candidates Kim Youngrrok and Min Hyungbae, along with the Rebuilding Korea Party and the Justice Party, all expressed support. In contrast, candidate Kang Gijung was the only one to oppose the plan.

There were also differences regarding the willingness to submit a top-priority application for the 5th National Railway Network Plan. Candidate Min Hyungbae and the Justice Party indicated they would “actively promote” the application, while candidate Kim Youngrrok and the Rebuilding Korea Party said they would proceed “after review.” Candidate Kang Gijung maintained his opposition here as well.

Additionally, regarding the revision of the enforcement decree for designating “metropolitan areas” under the Special Act on Metropolitan Transportation, all candidates and parties except Kang Gijung agreed to promptly promote the measure.

The civic groups argued that constructing a new line would require trillions of won in budget and over 20 years, whereas utilizing existing lines would reduce costs to one-tenth or one-twentieth and enable opening within 10 years.

The organizations stated, “It is time to decide whether to wait 30 years or choose 10 years of innovation,” urging unified mayoral candidates to adopt the policy as a campaign pledge. They added, “If local government responses remain insufficient, we will launch a resident-led ordinance initiative and actively work to establish the metropolitan rail network.”

Of the five Democratic Party unified mayoral primary candidates, three (Kang Gijung, Kim Youngrrok, and Min Hyungbae) responded to the public inquiry, as did the Gwangju branches of the Rebuilding Korea Party and the Justice Party. Candidates Shin Junghoon and Joo Cheolhyeon, along with the Progressive Party and the Basic Income Party, did not respond.