Incheon City Council Urges Inclusion of 'Y-Shaped' GTX-D Line and Withdrawal of Japanese Nuclear Wastewater Discharge

Incheon City Council held a resolution rally on the 11th urging the inclusion of the 'Y-shaped' GTX-D line in the 4th National Railroad Network Construction Plan.
[Photo by Incheon City Council]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The Incheon Metropolitan Council has added a 'Y-shaped' route including Incheon Cheongna and Geomdan to the GTX (Greater Seoul Metropolitan Area Express Railway)-D line and strongly urged the Japanese government to withdraw its plan to discharge Fukushima contaminated water into the ocean, which has alarmed the entire world.

On the 11th, the council held a resolution rally in front of the main building of the council and demanded the government to reflect the 'Y-shaped' GTX-D line connecting the two routes of Cheongna and Geomdan to Seoul in the 4th National Railroad Network Construction Plan.

Chairman Shin Eun-ho said, "Incheon is the third largest city in South Korea and the gateway city of South Korea where the international airport is located, yet it is discriminated against because it is close to Seoul," adding, "From the perspective of strengthening national competitiveness, the GTX-D Y-shaped line is an essential transportation network and must be included in the national railroad network plan."

According to the 4th National Railroad Network Construction Plan (2021?2030) announced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on the 22nd, the GTX-D line will be constructed from Gimpo Janggi to Bucheon Sports Complex. This is a significant reduction compared to the routes proposed by Incheon City and Gyeonggi Province.

Incheon City requested a 110km long 'Y' shaped route starting from Incheon International Airport and Gimpo in Gyeonggi, merging at Bucheon, passing through Gangnam, and extending to Hanam in Gyeonggi. The route passes through Seo-gu Cheongna, Gajeong, Jakjeon-dong, and Geomdan and Gyeyang areas in Incheon.

Gyeonggi Province has proposed the construction of a 68km GTX-D line connecting Gimpo, passing through Gangnam, and extending to Hanam.

Residents of the western metropolitan area, including Incheon and Gimpo, are strongly opposing the announcement that the GTX-D line will not connect to Seoul.

The Incheon Metropolitan Council also strongly condemned and urged the withdrawal of the Japanese government's official announcement on the 13th of last month to discharge 1.25 million tons of radioactive contaminated water generated from the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident into the ocean.

The council stated, "This is an act that threatens the global marine ecosystem and human safety," and added, "We will respond strongly to ensure that the Japanese government withdraws the discharge decision as soon as possible."

The council, in cooperation with the international community, demands transparent information disclosure and verification from the Japanese government, while urging our government to conduct thorough quarantine and origin control on imported seafood.

Meanwhile, the 'Resolution Strongly Condemning and Urging the Withdrawal of Japan's Decision to Discharge Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Contaminated Water into the Ocean,' which was proposed by Representative Lee Yong-beom at the 270th temporary session of the Incheon Metropolitan Council, has been submitted.