[Exclusive] Democratic Party's PK Gamble "Build Railway Network in Busan-Ulsan-Changwon-Masan Like the Capital Region" Pledge

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] The Democratic Party of Korea is unveiling a metropolitan railway plan connecting Masan-Changwon-Busan-Ulsan as a key pledge for the Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam (PK) region. Based on this, the party aims to form another 'mega-city' economic zone in the Southeast region, aside from the Seoul metropolitan area. This is the Democratic Party's strategic move for the development of the PK region, which is expected to be the fiercest battleground in the upcoming general election.

Kim Young-chun, a member of the National Assembly representing Busanjin-gu Gap and chairman of the Democratic Party's 'Busan, Ulsan, Gyeongnam Mega-City Vision Committee,' stated on the 4th, "We will present a metropolitan transportation network plan as a pledge to transform the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam region, with a population exceeding 8 million, into a competitive mega-city." He added, "We will establish a metropolitan railway plan connecting Busan, Ulsan, Gimhae, Changwon, and Masan."

The plan is to unify the Southeast region similarly to how the Seoul metropolitan subway network extends to Seoul, Incheon, Suwon, and Uijeongbu. Kim said, "The Seoul metropolitan area already had a metropolitan railway network in the 1970s, which helped unify it as an economic zone, but the Southeast region still lacks public transportation networks connecting adjacent cities." He continued, "Initially, we will expand the basic routes using the existing railway network, and then connect other cities using branch lines."

Min Hong-chul, Democratic Party member and chairman of the Gyeongnam Provincial Party Committee representing Gimhae-si Gap, also said, "If we unite the five major cities in the Southeast region, including Busan, it will be the only system capable of competing with the Seoul metropolitan area. As a prerequisite, we will present a metropolitan transportation network system and transfer system as joint pledges for the PK region."

Professor Park Jae-hyun of the Department of Civil and Urban Engineering at Inje University, at last month's Mega-City Vision Committee symposium, proposed linking the Bujeon-Masan and Busan-Ulsan metropolitan railways and, in the mid-term, introducing a circular line within Changwon and Ulsan areas, stating that "commuting between major Southeast cities within 30 minutes" will become possible. Professor Park also presented plans for constructing the 'Daegu-Changwon Line' to connect the Gyeongbu High-Speed Railway, Donghae Line, and Bujeon-Masan Line as the 'Yeongnam Region Mega-City Express Railway (MTX)' and operating a high-speed railway along the southern coast.

Kim said, "We are currently preparing the routes and funding plans for the projects to be initiated first," adding, "People and money are being sucked into the Seoul metropolitan area like a black hole, leaving local regions in a survival crisis. We will consult with the central government to create a competitive Southeast mega-city."

Meanwhile, regarding the Southeast new airport, whose feasibility is being verified by the Prime Minister's Office verification committee, the Democratic Party is expected to continue urging prompt progress but will likely not include it as a pledge in this general election. Given the uncertain schedule of the verification committee, there is concern that it could become an irresponsible 'rosy pledge.'