Haenam-gun "Let's Run to the End of the Land on the Korean Version of the Autobahn" Expecting the Construction of a Superhighway

Yoon Seok-yeol Government's Promise to Build Gwangju-Yeongam Expressway Raises Expectations for Regional Development
Phase 2 of Haenam-Jindo Project to Connect Expressways Nationwide Within 30 Minutes

Gwangju-Yeongam Expressway Construction Plan (Photo by Haenam-gun)

[Haenam=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Hyun] Thanks to the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's pledge to build an ultra-high-speed highway between Gwangju and Yeongam, expectations are rising for a groundbreaking transportation network era where entry to the highway within 30 minutes is possible even from Ttangkkeut Haenam.

In particular, centered around the Solar City industrial complex, Haenam is establishing itself as a key international hub in the future road network extending to Wando, Jindo, and Jeju, and is expected to bring revolutionary changes to industry and logistics.

President Yoon Suk-yeol visited Gwangju last February as the People Power Party's presidential candidate and pledged to build an ultra-high-speed highway between Gwangju and Yeongam. Subsequently, the presidential transition committee adopted the construction of a "Korean version of the Autobahn" as one of the seven major pledges for Gwangju, presenting a blueprint to open the ultra-high-speed highway connecting Gwangju and Yeongam and make it a mecca for AI, future automobiles, and motorsports.

The plan to build the ultra-high-speed highway between Gwangju and Yeongam aims to connect Gwangju, a leading region for future automobiles, and the Yeongam F1 racetrack in the style of Germany's Autobahn, to be used as a testbed for autonomous vehicles. The total length is expected to be 41.5 km, with a project cost of 2.6 trillion KRW.

Haenam County is focusing on the second phase of the ultra-high-speed highway project, which involves constructing a highway between Yeongam and Jindo. The second phase will build a highway extending 57.3 km from Yeongam through Haenam's Solar City industrial complex to Jindo, with an investment of 2.6447 trillion KRW.

Accordingly, the county emphasizes that the second phase of the highway project connecting Haenam and Jindo is an essential task to maximize the effects of the Gwangju-Yeongam ultra-high-speed highway.

The Haenam Solar City industrial complex, with an investment of about 2.3 trillion KRW, includes plans for a carbon-neutral cluster, eco-friendly renewable energy industrial complex, and power generation complex, which have been adopted as national policy tasks by the new government. Moreover, last year, it was finally selected in the regional hub smart city creation project competition hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, promoting the establishment of smart city infrastructure and service bases over three years with up to 24 billion KRW invested in electric vehicle sharing services, autonomous shuttle buses, and Solar City metaverse implementation.

Additionally, last month, a global data center investment agreement worth 2.6 trillion KRW utilizing 100% renewable energy was concluded, drawing worldwide attention as a mecca for new industries.

Furthermore, beyond ensuring the smooth progress of the Gwangju-Yeongam ultra-high-speed highway connection, efforts are actively underway to prepare joint response measures in the southwestern region, emphasizing that connecting Haenam to Jindo will not only enhance the economic effects of the national high-speed transportation network but also resolve disparities in highway services in underdeveloped areas, realizing the new government's national policy goal of "highway access within 30 minutes anywhere nationwide."

In addition, proposals are being made to have the construction of the Gwangju-Yeongam ultra-high-speed highway reflected in the revised second highway plan, which is being promoted until 2025. For sections included in national plans such as the Gwangju 3rd ring highway, efforts will be made to support passing preliminary feasibility studies and cooperate to ensure smooth construction progress.

A county official said, "We will closely consult with relevant local governments in the Gwangju and Jeonnam areas to ensure that the pledge to build the ultra-high-speed highway is realized and promote it as a representative project for regional coexistence. Since the Haenam Solar City industrial complex and other areas have sufficient advantages from the highway connection, we will actively build infrastructure and use it as an opportunity for regional development."

Haenam=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Hyun alwatros@asiae.co.kr