Is There No Solution to the 'Traffic Hell'? Busan Gijang-gun Proposes 'Osiria' Traffic Council and Service Implementation

Taking Direct Action to Solve Traffic Issues in Osiria Tourist Complex and Ilgwang New Town

Busan City and Busan Urban Corporation Urged to "All Participate to Find Practical Solutions"

Busan Gijang County Office.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Busan’s Gijang-gun has embarked on finding solutions to the traffic problems facing Osiria Tourist Complex and Ilgwang New Town, which are experiencing severe traffic congestion.

Gijang-gun proposed to Busan City and Busan Urban Corporation the formation of a “Traffic Countermeasure Council for Solving Traffic Problems in Osiria Tourist Complex and Ilgwang New Town” and the commissioning of a study to devise traffic flow measures.

The Osiria Tourist Complex is a large-scale stay-type tourist complex being developed by Busan City on a 3.66 million square meter site in Daebyeon-ri and Sirang-ri, Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, with a project cost of 6 trillion KRW. It includes facilities such as a theme park, a complex shopping mall, hotels and resorts, Aquaworld, and a golf course, with some facilities already in operation.

On weekends and public holidays, up to 14,000 vehicles visit, causing major roads such as Gijang Coastal Road to suffer from severe traffic congestion. Additionally, the opening of the “Skyline Luge” in June and the commencement of operations of “Lotte World Adventure Busan” in August are expected to worsen the traffic chaos.

Ilgwang New Town is also experiencing serious traffic congestion during commuting hours and on weekends and holidays due to development and increased traffic from new apartment move-ins, making urgent traffic volume dispersion measures necessary.

On the 19th, Gijang-gun formed a traffic countermeasure task force led by the deputy governor and proposed to Busan City the establishment of the “Traffic Countermeasure Council for Osiria Tourist Complex and Ilgwang New Town,” which includes local resident representatives and institutions and organizations, and the commissioning of a study to devise vehicle traffic flow measures.

Regarding Gijang-gun Governor Oh Gyu-seok’s proposal, Jo Yoo-jang, Director of Busan City’s Tourism MICE Industry Bureau, responded, “Busan City has completed lane expansion and intersection traffic system improvement projects on Gijang Coastal Road, and is currently expanding Gijang Coastal Road from five lanes to seven lanes, with completion scheduled for September this year. The ‘Gwangandaegyo Connection Road Project (2018?2023)’ is underway, and the ‘Bansong Tunnel and Connection Road Construction Project’ is also under review.”

Governor Oh said, “Those measures alone are insufficient to solve the traffic problems. Additional medium- and long-term traffic flow countermeasures are urgently needed, so please promptly form the traffic countermeasure council.” Director Jo also expressed his willingness to actively participate.

Governor Oh stated, “A council composed of related agencies, experts, and resident representatives must be formed to find solutions to the traffic chaos,” adding, “A study without countermeasures is meaningless; I hope effective and practical measures will be proposed.”