Ulsan Taehwagang~Buk Ulsan Metropolitan Railroad to Operate

Basic Plan Confirmed and Announced for 9.69km Section
Expectations for Promoting Exchange Between Busan and Ulsan

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 30th that the basic plan for the Taehwagang?Buk Ulsan (Songjeong) metropolitan railway project will be finalized and officially announced as of September 1.

The Taehwagang?Buk Ulsan (Songjeong) metropolitan railway project involves an investment of 23.7 billion KRW (16.6 billion KRW from the central government and 7.1 billion KRW from local government) to build facilities allowing electric trains to operate along a 9.69 km section from Taehwagang Station to Buk Ulsan Station.

According to the basic plan, after completing the basic and detailed design phases (~2023), construction is expected to begin in the second half of 2023, with the line potentially opening as early as the first half of 2025.

Currently, only seven Mugunghwa trains operate daily (on weekdays) between Busan Bujeon Station and Ulsan Buk Ulsan Station, but once the Taehwagang?Buk Ulsan (Songjeong) metropolitan railway opens, 44 additional electric train services are planned.

It is expected that the railway accessibility for residents in the northern Ulsan living area, where population growth is anticipated due to large-scale development projects such as the Songjeong district housing development, will be greatly improved.

After the basic plan is finalized and announced, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Ulsan Metropolitan City, the Korea Rail Network Authority, and Korea Railroad Corporation will sign an operating agreement to ensure smooth opening and operation of the Taehwagang?Songjeong metropolitan railway. The agreement includes that the railroad corporation, which currently operates electric trains between Bujeon Station and Taehwagang Station, will be responsible for operations, and any operational losses will be borne by Ulsan City.

Jung Suho, Director of Railway Investment and Development at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated, "Through the Taehwagang?Songjeong metropolitan railway project, electric trains currently operating only up to Taehwagang Station will be extended to northern Ulsan, which is expected to further promote exchanges between Busan and Ulsan." He added, "We will work closely with Ulsan City, the Rail Network Authority, Korail, and other related agencies to ensure that subsequent procedures such as basic and detailed design and electric train manufacturing proceed smoothly."