'June Special Self-Governing Province Launch'... Gangwon-do Accelerates 'Railroad SOC'

Promotion of Mid- to Long-Term Planning Service for Railway SOC Projects

Gangwon Province announced on the 28th that "Ahead of the launch of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province in June this year, the expansion of SOC such as railroads is being carried out focusing on the Chuncheon~Sokcho East-West High-Speed Railroad, Donghae Bukbu Line from Gangneung to Jejin, and the double-track electrification project from Yeoju to Wonju, all scheduled to open simultaneously in 2027."

[Photo by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport]

According to the province, the Misiryeong lower Seoraksan passage section, which was expected to face difficulties in promoting the Chuncheon~Sokcho railroad project, received a national park activity permit last year through the National Park Committee.

The Seoraksan bypass section of the Donghae Bukbu Line from Gangneung to Jejin has been straightened with a tunnel, and the strategic environmental impact assessment modification consultation was completed at the end of last year.

The Samcheok~Gangneung railroad high-speed project is currently undergoing a preliminary feasibility study by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the Yongmun~Hongcheon metropolitan railroad is scheduled to apply for a preliminary feasibility study in the second half of the year after a preliminary feasibility study by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

The province plans to establish a 'Mid- to Long-Term Plan for Railroad SOC Projects' to set the feasibility, justification, and promotion strategies for railroad construction such as GTX Chuncheon and Wonju extensions, Wonju~Chuncheon, Jecheon~Samcheok, Gyeongwon Line, and Jeongseon~Pyeongchang.

The Construction and Transportation Bureau of the province stated, "To realize the era of Gangwon connected to the metropolitan area with a population of 2 million and a regional GDP of 100 trillion won, we will do our best to expand SOC in cooperation with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, public corporations, and local governments."