Daegu~Gimcheon Metropolitan Area Rail Extension 'Virtually Confirmed' … Gimcheon City Rejoices, "Leap to a Transportation Hub"

Inclusion of Gimcheon~Mungyeong Line and Gimcheon~Jeonju Line in the 4th National Railway Network Plan
… Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Announces at Public Hearing Ahead of June Notification

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Jae-ho] With the extension of the Southern Inland Railway Daegu~Gimcheon metropolitan area through the Gimcheon~Mungyeong line and Gimcheon~Jeonju line being reflected in the 4th National Railway Network Construction Plan, it appears that all the railway lines that Gimcheon City has been demanding can be realized within the next 10 years.

According to Gimcheon City, Gyeongbuk, on the 23rd, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport held a public hearing on the 22nd to announce the results of the establishment of the 4th National Railway Network Construction Plan. The announced content is the highest-level statutory plan for railway construction projects over the next 10 years (2021~2030).

A Gimcheon City official emphasized, "This public hearing was arranged as the final process to gather opinions from stakeholders before the announcement at the end of June," adding, "It holds great significance in that it laid the foundation for the stable promotion of the railway construction projects that Gimcheon City has been focusing on."

The announced plan included the 'Daegu~Gimcheon metropolitan area' railway extension project, which was not reflected in the 3rd National Railway Network Construction Plan, as a new project.

The 'Daegu~Gimcheon metropolitan area railway extension,' one of Mayor Kim Chung-seop's campaign promises, is expected to greatly help revitalize the regional economy by improving accessibility with neighboring areas such as Gyeongsan, Daegu, Chilgok, and Gumi through the metropolitan railway system.

The Gimcheon~Mungyeong line was also selected as a key section connecting the train operation discontinuity section to enhance railway operation efficiency, one of the seven major tasks of the National Railway Network Construction Project. The Gimcheon~Jeonju railway construction project was also reflected as an additional review project, along with the Dalbit Inland Railway construction project between Daegu and Gwangju, allowing expectations for future changes in conditions.

A Gimcheon City official expressed joy, saying, "With all the railway lines that our city is focusing on being reflected in the 4th National Railway Network Construction Plan, Gimcheon City is on the verge of becoming a hub city for railway transportation," and added, "We have laid the foundation for a blueprint that can help us grow into a self-sufficient city of 300,000 people in the future."