Lee Jae-myung Appeals to Gyeonggi Voters with 'Proximity to Work and Residence'... Promises "Additional GTX, Reconstruction and Redevelopment of 1st Generation New Towns"

April 24, Lee Jae-myung Announces Gyeonggi Province Pledges
Promises '30-Minute Living Zone in the Seoul Metropolitan Area' with GTX Plus Project
Customized Detailed Pledges for Yongin, Icheon, Yeoju, Yangpyeong, Seongnam, and Gwangju

[Asia Economy Reporters Oh Ju-yeon and Jeon Jin-young] Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, announced the 'GTX Plus Project' in Gyeonggi-do on the 24th, stating, "We will create a 30-minute living zone in the metropolitan area." This is interpreted as a response to the judgment that the core issues of Gyeonggi-do, which is extensively spread around Seoul, are 'proximity of residence and workplace, transportation, and accessibility.' Along with this, he also promised to ease reconstruction and redevelopment regulations in first-generation new towns such as Bundang.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the same day, at the Poeun Art Hall in Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, Lee announced the Gyeonggi-do pledge, saying, "We will promote the GTX Plus Project by adding new lines to the GTX."

Lee said, "We will promote a transportation revolution that connects the entire metropolitan area into an average 30-minute living zone to greatly enhance the proximity of residence and workplace for Gyeonggi residents," emphasizing, "We will firmly adhere to the principle of 'transportation first, then residence' to ensure that residents of the third-generation new towns do not experience inconvenience."

Accordingly, he explained that they will increase the speed of the currently promoted GTX-A, B, and C lines and actively promote the 'GTX-A+, C+ lines' by adding new lines to some sections.

Looking into the details, GTX-A+ will extend the existing section that was connected to Dongtan to Pyeongtaek, and GTX-C+ plans to extend the northern section from the existing Deokjeong to Dongducheon. Additionally, the southern section, which was up to Suwon, will be extended to Byeongjeom~Osan~Pyeongtaek, and from Geumjeong, the existing line will be utilized to connect Ansan~Oido.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

GTX-D will normalize the Gimpo~Bucheon section originally proposed by Gyeonggi-do to include Gimpo~Bucheon~Gangnam~Hanam, and new lines GTX-E (Incheon~Siheung·Gwangmyeong New Town~Seoul~Guri~Pocheon) and GTX-F (Paju~Samsong~Seoul~Wirye~Gwangju~Icheon~Yeoju) will be established.

He also mentioned that the Western Line will connect Seoul National University Gwanaksan Station to Anyang, the northern part of Subway Line 3 will connect Daehwa~Geumneung~Gyeongui-Jungang Line, and the southern part will be extended to Seongnam, Yongin, and Suwon. In addition, extension plans for Line 5 (Banghwa~Gimpo), Line 6 (Sinnae~Guri~Namyangju), Line 7 (Okjeong~Pocheon), Line 8 (Seongnam Pangyo~Seohyeon~Gwangju Opo), Line 9 (Gangdong~Hanam~Namyangju), Incheon Line 2 extension to Gimpo and Goyang, and the establishment of the Goyang~Eunpyeong Line were also presented. Along with this, for aging first-generation new towns such as Bundang, Sanbon, Ilsan, Jungdong, and Pyeongchon, he promised to create a 'Bundang·Sanbon·Ilsan·Jungdong·Pyeongchon New Town Special Act' to ease reconstruction, redevelopment, and remodeling regulations.

Regarding new town reconstruction and redevelopment, the plan is to apply the 4th-class general residential area allowing a floor area ratio of up to 500% and to expedite permits to significantly reduce time and costs.

Following his apology to the public for government failures during the real estate pledge announcement the previous day, Lee bowed deeply with Democratic Party lawmakers on this day and repeatedly said, "We were very lacking, and I offer my apologies."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee said, "Since it is also the New Year and coincides with the traditional New Year's bow, I would like to express my determination to repay with a completely different new politics," and bowed deeply toward the press together with Democratic Party lawmakers representing Gyeonggi-do constituencies. Lee said, "The Democratic Party was very lacking. We will do better in the future. I would like to greet you with this apology."