Won Hee-ryong: "Osong Rail Cluster Construction to Start Within Current Administration... Corporate Attraction Also a 'One Team'"

Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, expressed his commitment to the groundbreaking of the Osong Railway Cluster National Industrial Complex within the current administration.

Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (center), is taking a commemorative photo with officials at the 'Osong Railway Cluster National Industrial Complex Issue Meeting' held on the 5th at the Osong Branch of the Chungbuk Railroad Technology Institute. / Photo by Noh Kyung-jo

On the 5th, at the 'Osong Railway Cluster National Industrial Complex Current Issues Meeting' held at the Osong branch of the Railway Technology Research Institute in Chungbuk, Minister Won said, "The President emphasized that speed is the most important factor in establishing the national industrial complex," adding, "Unlike previous administrations that only made announcements but failed to start construction or complete it under the next government, we hope to proceed as quickly as possible."

He continued, "Until now, Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) and others would complete site development and infrastructure, and local governments would independently attract domestic and foreign companies. Going forward, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport along with related ministries will actively work as one team." This reflects President Yoon Suk-yeol’s hope that the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Ministry of SMEs and Startups, Ministry of Science and ICT, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs will all participate to achieve a second industrial leap in the regions.

The Osong Railway Cluster National Industrial Complex was selected last month on the 15th as one of the candidate sites for the government’s advanced industrial belt national industrial complexes. This is due to the need to strengthen technology and foster industry in the parts and maintenance sectors.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the global railway industry is valued at 249 trillion KRW (average from 2017 to 2019) and continues to grow at 2.2% annually. The vehicle manufacturing and parts and maintenance markets are no exception. However, domestic companies rely on imports for parts and maintenance competitiveness. Therefore, the plan is to utilize the Osong railway site and infrastructure to create a parts and maintenance-centered national industrial complex, promoting mutual development from Uiwang to Changwon.

The Osong Railway Cluster is planned to be developed on a 993,288㎡ site near Osong Station with an investment of 558.9 billion KRW. The schedule aims for a public institution preliminary feasibility study in the second half of this year, designation as a national industrial complex in 2025, compensation and groundbreaking in 2026, and completion by 2029. The Ministry expects an increase of 1,199 jobs, 1.3034 trillion KRW in production, and 411.2 billion KRW in added value. A demand survey conducted from August to November last year showed that 39 companies expressed intentions to move in.

Additionally, Chungbuk Province proposed extending the runway at Cheongju International Airport, early construction of the Chungcheong Inland Expressway, and prioritizing preliminary and feasibility studies for the extension of the Dangjin-Cheongju Expressway to Goesan.

Minister Won responded, "We will not simply categorize local complaints vertically as 'possible or not,' but as the President said, we will do our best to enable the regions to take the lead and start anew."