Mayor Joo Gwang-deok Discusses Key Issues in Namyangju with Minister Won Hee-ryong

Mayor Joo Requests Support and Cooperation for Urban Development, Self-Sufficiency Functions, and Securing GTX-D, E, F Lines

On the 20th, Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Joo Gwang-deok, Mayor of Namyangju City, visited the Dasan New Town in Namyangju and the Wangsuk District of the 3rd New Town. [Namyangju City]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Namyangju City in Gyeonggi Province invited Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, on the previous day (20th) to request enhanced government support and cooperation regarding the city's major government policy developments.

Mayor Joo Gwang-deok of Namyangju City toured the Dasan New Town and the 3rd New Town Wangsuk District sites with Minister Won, then proposed securing an urban high-tech industrial complex and expanding transportation infrastructure.

They then moved to the city hall, where a meeting was held with officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Namyangju City staff, during which the mayor directly presented proposals on key local issues requiring central government cooperation.

The requests Mayor Joo made to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport include ▲strengthening the self-sufficient functions of Wangsuk New Town (confirming the scale of the urban high-tech complex) ▲participation as a joint project implementer in the Yangjeong Station area complex development project (enhancing local government capabilities) ▲creating a transportation hub with comprehensive connectivity ▲changing the route of the Dasan Jigeum metropolitan transportation improvement project (Migeum-ro expansion) ▲securing GTX-D, E, and F lines ▲direct connection between the Gyeongchun Line and Bundang Line ▲promotion of Gangbyeonbuk-ro BTX (implementation and operation by higher authorities) ▲and improvement construction of Local Road No. 86.

Mayor Joo particularly emphasized that securing the GTX-D, E, and F lines must be reflected in the 5th National Railroad Network Construction Plan, and requested active consideration to ensure the connection to Namyangju, as solving transportation issues is a long-cherished task for Namyangju citizens.

He also stressed, "Securing the GTX-D, E, and F lines and fostering advanced industries such as big data and AI, which are among President Yoon Seok-yeol's campaign pledges, are directly linked to the future of Namyangju City, where per capita GRDP ranks 31st in Gyeonggi Province and industrial complex area accounts for only 0.2% of the entire province."

He further reiterated the need for active cooperation and support so that Namyangju City, which is approaching a population of one million but suffers from an absolute lack of urban infrastructure due to overlapping regulations, can establish self-sufficient functions and expand transportation infrastructure.

In response, Minister Won said, "The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will cooperate to ensure that Namyangju City becomes a beacon of hope for the future and a model case for balanced national land development.”