Preparing for Inter-Korean Railway Connection... Government Allocates 1.3 Billion Won for Gyeongwon Line Restoration

Ministry of Unification Reviews and Approves Support Plan for Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund
1.9 Billion KRW Allocated for Arrowhead Hill On-site Memorial Hall Development

In November 2018, the gate of the Gyeongui Line railway in the Demilitarized Zone, Jangdan-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, is opening before a train carrying the South-North Railway Joint Investigation Team enters through the gate.

The government will provide 1.3 billion KRW for the 'Restoration Project of the Southern Section of the Gyeongwon Line' and 1.9 billion KRW for the 'Creation of the Hwasalmori Hill On-site Memorial Hall.'

On the 16th, the Ministry of Unification announced, "On the 16th, the government held the 317th Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Promotion Council (IKCPC) meeting and reviewed and approved the proposal to support the Restoration Project of the Southern Section of the Gyeongwon Line and the Creation of the Hwasalmori Hill On-site Memorial Hall using the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund."

Accordingly, the government decided to provide 1.33184 billion KRW in management costs for the Restoration Project of the Southern Section of the Gyeongwon Line.

The Restoration Project of the Southern Section of the Gyeongwon Line had most of its work completed, including land compensation and design, even after construction was suspended in May 2016 due to the inter-Korean relations situation in early 2016. Currently, the site is managed with a minimal number of personnel.

The Ministry of Unification explained that this support plan "has the nature of an interim settlement of various expenses to maintain the project site while preparing for inter-Korean cooperation such as the connection of the Gyeongwon Line railway."

The Ministry of Unification added, "The government plans to comprehensively consider various aspects such as inter-Korean consultations, border area development, and environmental and cultural heritage protection to review the timing for resuming the project."

Additionally, the government decided to provide 1.95 billion KRW to support the creation of the Hwasalmori Hill On-site Memorial Hall.

This project is part of efforts to carry forward the significance of the joint excavation of remains agreed upon by both Koreas in the 'September 19 Military Agreement' around the Hwasalmori Hill area and to advance the concept of the 'DMZ International Peace Zone.'

Through this support, the government plans to remodel the aging Hwasalmori Hill Guard Post into an on-site memorial hall where citizens can safely and comfortably visit, and to expand the memorial hall honoring the fallen South Korean soldiers at Hwasalmori Hill as well as the exhibition space for artifacts excavated from the area.

The Ministry of Unification stated, "By providing a comprehensive space for understanding and experiencing Hwasalmori Hill and the DMZ area, it aims to establish a domestic and international hub for spreading consensus on peace and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula. Furthermore, through linkage and synergy with the 'DMZ Peace Trail,' it is expected to function as a cornerstone for realizing the 'DMZ International Peace Zone' in the mid to long term."

Promotional Material Related to the Inter-Korean Railway Connection Project by the Ministry of Unification

Meanwhile, Minister of Unification Lee In-young reaffirmed the will to connect railways between South and North Korea and to promote individual tourism to North Korea, emphasizing that "it is a path that must be taken and a responsibility that must not be ignored."

At the international symposium 'New Korean Peninsula Regime and Peace Economy' hosted by the Korea Institute for National Unification on the 21st of last month, he delivered a video congratulatory message stating, "The immediate tasks are to implement the railway and road connection and modernization agreed upon by the inter-Korean leaders, to promote individual tourism to North Korea, and to drive North Korea-U.S. denuclearization negotiations through inter-Korean trust."