Gumi-si, Home to the Largest Inland Electronics and Telecommunications Complex, Now Known as 'Gumi Station in Gimcheon'
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Is the true 'KTX era' about to open in Gumi, Gyeongbuk?
Although there is a 'KTX Gimcheon-Gumi Station,' it only bears the name Gumi, while the station itself is located in Gimcheon City. The high-speed train, which only passes through Gumi without stopping, is expected to soon respond to Gumi's long-awaited desire for a 'stop.'
Gumi has the largest number of national industrial complexes in the country and the largest inland complexes, with five national industrial complexes and three agro-industrial complexes, developing into the largest inland advanced electronic information and communication industrial complex.
Amid the spread of the super-regional economic zone and globalization trends, Gumi has continuously been excluded from the construction of advanced transportation infrastructure such as airports and KTX, causing frustration due to decreased accessibility for overseas exchanges, buyers, and research personnel. Naturally, the top priority demand of Gumi investors and businesspeople has been the KTX stop in Gumi.
On the 28th, the 'Mungyeong~Sangju~Gimcheon' section of the Jungbu Inland Line (Suseo~Geoje) passed the preliminary feasibility study, resolving the unconnected section of the Jungbu Inland Railway, prompting Mungyeong City, Sangju City, and Gimcheon City to celebrate. This section is 69.8 km long, with a total project cost of 1.3031 trillion KRW, and will be constructed as a high-speed line capable of operating KTX I-eum (maximum speed 260 km/h).
This section faced difficulties due to lack of business feasibility after the preliminary feasibility study began in May 2019, delaying the announcement of the study results. However, on the 16th, it passed the Ministry of Strategy and Finance's fiscal project evaluation SOC subcommittee, and on the 28th, it was finally approved at the fiscal project evaluation committee's preliminary feasibility study review.
Once the Jungbu Inland Line is completed by 2030, it is expected to activate exchanges between regions. Additionally, the Daegu Metropolitan Railroad Phase 2 (Gimcheon~Gumi) project was selected as a new project in the 4th National Railroad Network Construction Plan. Upon opening, accessibility from Gumi to the Seoul metropolitan area will improve, and if connected from Suseo through Mungyeong, Gimcheon (Gumi), to Dongdaegu, passengers using Gumi Station located in Wonpyeong-dong via the Jungbu Inland Line will be able to reach Gangnam within two hours.
Currently, the Daegu-Gyeongbuk (Seodaegu~Uiseong) metropolitan railroad construction, which is undergoing a preliminary feasibility study, is expected to greatly help accessibility from Gumi to the integrated new airport.
Mayor Kim Jang-ho said, “I am very pleased to see the possibility of a KTX I-eum stop in Gumi, a long-cherished wish of Gumi citizens,” and added, “I will request the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Gyeongbuk Province to shorten access time through linear improvements in the modernization project of the Gyeongbu Line (Gimcheon Station~Gumi Station) (high-speed rail improvement).”
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