Sangju, Gimcheon, and Mungyeong Cities Submit Petition for Early Construction of Jungbu Inland Railroad

"Connecting the Middle Section of the National Longitudinal Railway is Essential for Regional and National Balanced Development"

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongwook Park] Sangju City in Gyeongbuk announced that Mayor Kang Young-seok, along with Kim Chung-seop, Mayor of Gimcheon, and Park Jae-gu, Vice Mayor of Mungyeong, visited the Blue House on the 29th and submitted a petition urging the early construction of the Mungyeong~Sangju~Gimcheon section, an unconnected segment of the national longitudinal railway line connecting Seoul Suseo~Gimcheon~Geoje, Gyeongnam.

On the same day, Mayor Kang and others submitted a petition calling for the prompt approval of the preliminary feasibility study and early construction of the Mungyeong~Sangju~Gimcheon Jungbu Inland Railway. The petition included signatures from approximately 244,000 citizens, representing 79% of the population of Gimcheon, Sangju, and Mungyeong.

Mayor Kang and his delegation then met with Kim Sa-yeol, Chairman of the National Balanced Development Committee, at the Government Seoul Office to explain the necessity of constructing the Mungyeong~Sangju~Gimcheon section to promote balanced development in the underdeveloped inland areas of Gyeongbuk and to connect key points between the metropolitan area and the central and southern regions. They requested active cooperation from the government in terms of national balanced development.

The Jungbu Inland Railway section from Icheon, Gyeonggi Province to Mungyeong is currently under construction with a target completion date in 2023. The Gimcheon~Geoje section is about to commence construction.

Mayor Kang Young-seok emphasized, "The railway connection of the Mungyeong~Sangju~Gimcheon middle section of the national longitudinal railway is an essential national infrastructure project for future generations," adding, "It must be connected not only for regional balanced development but also for the overall national leap forward."

The Mungyeong~Sangju~Gimcheon Jungbu Inland Railway construction project spans a total length of 73 km and is included in the 3rd National Railway Network Construction Plan. Currently, the Korea Development Institute (KDI) is conducting a preliminary feasibility study on the route construction, with results expected to be announced in the second half of this year.