Korea Rail Network Authority Announces July Selection for Railway Idle Land Utilization Project Contest

Exterior view photo of the Korea Rail Network Authority building (right) and Korea Railroad Corporation building (left) located in Dong-gu, Daejeon. Provided by the Korea Rail Network Authority.

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The Korea Rail Network Authority announced on the 29th that it will conduct a proposal contest for the first half of this year’s ‘Railway Idle Land Utilization Project’ targeting local governments nationwide from the 30th of this month to the 31st of next month.

The submitted proposals will undergo preliminary review and on-site investigation by a practical evaluation team consisting of Korea Rail Network Authority employees and faculty members, followed by a committee review composed of experts from academia, research institutes, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The adoption decision will be made by mid-July.

Previously, since 2015, the Korea Rail Network Authority has been carrying out the Railway Idle Land Utilization Project. Through this, a total of 30 projects have been promoted so far, transforming railway idle land into railway forests, bicycle paths, parks, and other uses.

In particular, the space under railway viaducts, which was previously used simply as parking lots, has recently been transformed into spaces for youth job creation and startup support, thereby enhancing the utilization of railway assets.

Kim Han-young, Director of the Korea Rail Network Authority, said, “Efficient utilization of railway assets will not only generate new revenue but also improve residents’ living environments and contribute to regional development, creating a triple-win effect.”