Commemorative Speech After Test Ride on Daegok-Sosa Line
Following Seohae Line, Sinansan Line, and GTX, Ushering in the West Coast Era
Invitation Extended to Opposition Party Local Assembly Members Who Had Notified Absence
President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 30th, "We will do our best to ensure that the promise made during the presidential election to reduce commuting time in the Seoul metropolitan area to within 30 minutes is carried out without any setbacks." Following the opening of the Daegok-Sosa double-track railway on the same day, he intends to complete the West Coast era by implementing the construction of the West Coast railway network, including the Seohae Line, Shinansan Line, and the metropolitan area express railway (GTX) lines, as planned during his term.
President Yoon attended the 'Daegok-Sosa Double-Track Railway Opening Ceremony' held at Byeolmuri Stadium in Eoullimnuri, Goyang City, Gyeonggi Province, in the morning, stating, "The opening of the Daegok-Sosa Line will bring great vitality not only to the daily lives of residents but also to the local economy." After riding the train with citizens for about 20 minutes from Bucheon Wonjong Station to Goyang Daegok Station, he attended the ceremony.
The Daegok-Sosa double-track railway construction project connects Goyang City in Gyeonggi Province to Bucheon City in Gyeonggi Province via Gangseo-gu, Seoul (Gimpo Airport Station) by the shortest route. The travel time between Bucheon City and Goyang City, which used to take one hour by car, is reduced to 20 minutes by using the Daegok-Sosa Line.
Additionally, residents in the western metropolitan area can reach major downtown areas of Seoul within 30 minutes with just one transfer. Once the connecting projects currently under construction, such as the Seohae Line (Songsan to Hongseong) and the Shinansan Line (Songsan to Wonsi), open in 2025, a West Coast railway axis enabling direct travel from Goyang City in Gyeonggi Province to Chungcheongnam-do will be established.
President Yoon Suk-yeol raises his hand in greeting at the opening ceremony of the 'Seohae Line Daegok-Sosa Double Track Railway' held on the 30th at Byeolmuri Stadium, Eoullimnuri, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province. [Image source=Yonhap News]
President Yoon emphasized, "With the opening of the GTX-A line (Unjeong-Suseo, Suseo-Dongtan), which connects with the Daegok-Sosa Line, next year, and the commencement of construction of the GTX-B line (Incheon National University Entrance-Maseok) starting next year, the western metropolitan area will be transformed dramatically. By early 2025, the Seohae Line and Shinansan Line will be opened respectively, completing the railway network connecting the metropolitan area to Chungnam, ushering in the full-fledged West Coast era."
The event was attended by Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, members of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, and government and local officials including Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Lee Dong-hwan, Mayor of Goyang. Notably, opposition party lawmakers from the Democratic Party and the Justice Party, representing Bucheon and Goyang?who had been involved in the previous day's controversy over the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's 'opposition party bypass'?were invited again.
The constituencies include Kim Kyung-hyeop, Seol Hoon, Kim Sang-hee, and Seo Young-seok of the Democratic Party representing Bucheon Gap, Eul, Byeong, and Jeong respectively; Shim Sang-jung of the Justice Party representing Goyang Gap; and Han Jun-ho, Hong Jung-min, and Lee Yong-woo of the Democratic Party representing Goyang Eul, Byeong, and Jeong respectively.
These lawmakers had initially been notified by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to attend the event, but on the 28th, the ministry suddenly informed them of their non-attendance, citing a request from the Presidential Office. When the opposition raised suspicions of political motives, the ministry explained that the non-attendance request was a mistake by the relevant ministry staff and re-invited them.
President Yoon Suk-yeol is clapping after pressing the opening commemorative button at the opening ceremony of the 'Seohae Line Daegok-Sosa Double Track Railway' held on the 30th at Byeolmuri Stadium, Eoullimnuri, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province. [Image source=Yonhap News]
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