Won Hee-ryong: "GTX A, B, C to Start Construction Within Term; D, E, F Pass Preliminary Feasibility Study"

Press Conference of the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, is speaking about the policy direction of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport at a press briefing held at a restaurant in Eojin-dong, Sejong City on the 23rd.

On the 23rd, Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, announced that the construction of the metropolitan area express railway (GTX) lines A, B, and C will commence during the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, and that lines D, E, and F will pass the preliminary feasibility study (PFS).

Minister Won made these remarks during his first press briefing since taking office, held at a restaurant in Eojin-dong, Sejong City, where he previewed the GTX policy direction. He emphasized the importance of GTX in housing policy, stating, "The core to dispersing the scarcity value of locations in the housing market is precisely GTX."

In this context, he also referred to the drama My Liberation Notes. The drama depicts the hardships of Gyeonggi Province residents commuting to Seoul from a fictional place called "Sinpo City." Minister Won said, "There is a poignant resonance with the drama’s protagonists about leaving work while it is still bright but arriving home to find it is already night."

He added, "The goal is to start construction of lines A, B, and C within the Yoon Seok-yeol administration’s term, and we will keep this promise." Regarding lines D, E, and F, he explained, "We are identifying the optimal routes, but starting construction within the term is considered difficult. Our goal is to have the PFS passed within the administration’s term."

Regarding the selection of GTX routes, considerable complaints and controversies are expected. Minister Won stated, "Property rights maps will change depending on the GTX routes, and we are prepared for the resulting complaints," emphasizing, "We have no choice but to approach this from an urban engineering perspective." He further explained, "The GTX project will not end with the lines themselves; it will be reviewed from a long-term perspective, connected with future mobility that links branch and main lines and residential areas, representing a revolution in movement."

Minister Won previously emphasized GTX expansion plans during his time as the Planning Chairman of the Presidential Transition Committee. On the 21st of last month, he visited the GTX-A Section 6 construction site connecting Seoul Station and Samseong Station, stating, "By safely and properly opening GTX, we will fulfill the dream of a '30-minute commute' to Seoul for the tired residents of Gyeonggi and Incheon who commute daily, giving them more relaxed mornings and ample evenings with their families." He added, "We will expand GTX to reduce residential location disparities within the metropolitan area and contribute to housing stability."

Meanwhile, GTX is being constructed at a depth of 40 meters underground. Its maximum speed is 180 km/h, which is three times the subway’s average speed (excluding station stop times). Currently, GTX lines A, B, and C are under construction. The government expects that once GTX opens, travel time from Paju Unjeong to Seoul Samseong (Line A) will be reduced from 80 minutes to 26 minutes. The Incheon Songdo to Seoul Station route (Line B) will be shortened from 79 minutes to 30 minutes, and Yangju Deokjeong to Samseong (Line C) from 82 minutes to 27 minutes.