Assemblyman Heo Jong-sik: "Extension of Line 5, Agreement to be Reached Within the Year... Ministry of Strategy and Finance Should Exempt Preliminary Feasibility Study"
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has decided to prepare an optimal route plan for the extension of Seoul Subway Line 5 to Geomdan and Gimpo through a commissioned study.
According to materials submitted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to Heo Jong-sik, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (Incheon Dong-gu and Michuhol-gu Gap), the ministry recently commissioned a short-term study titled "Review of the Seoul Line 5 Extension Route Plan."
Amid conflicts between local governments over detailed route plans, a route review committee consisting of local governments and experts has been formed, and the plan is to review the pros and cons of the routes proposed by Incheon City and Gimpo City through the commissioned study.
Along with reaching a route agreement, a key concern is whether the preliminary feasibility study for the Line 5 extension will be exempted. A Ministry of Land official explained that since the economic feasibility (B/C) is below 1, if the project is submitted to the Ministry of Economy and Finance for the preliminary feasibility study, it is likely to be rejected. Therefore, acceptance of the exemption from the preliminary feasibility study by the Ministry of Economy and Finance will be a crucial issue to promptly alleviate the commuting difficulties of residents in the northwestern metropolitan area.
The extension of Seoul Line 5 is a project to newly construct 23.89 km from Banghwa Station in Seoul through Geomdan New Town to Janggi Station in Gimpo. The total project cost is estimated to be around 3 trillion won, depending on the plan by Incheon City (installing three stations in Geomdan) or Gimpo City (installing one station in Geomdan). As it is a metropolitan railway, the project cost will be finalized through national funding (70%), the Gimpo Hangang 2 Compact City metropolitan transportation improvement project budget, and local government budgets.
The Ministry of Land initially planned to announce the finalized route plan in August this year after Incheon City and Gimpo City submitted their preferred routes. However, the announcement has been postponed until the end of the year, as the ministry stated that the route decision must be made through agreement between local governments before consulting with financial authorities.
Representative Heo said, "I have requested the Ministry of Land to actively mediate so that an agreement on the Seoul Line 5 extension route can be reached within this year," adding, "The Ministry of Economy and Finance should also positively consider exempting the preliminary feasibility study."
Extension route map of Seoul Line 5 submitted to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport by Incheon City (above) and Gimpo City [Provided by Assemblyman Heo Jong-sik's Office]
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