Realizing 30-Minute Commutes in the Seoul Metropolitan Area... GTX-A, Line 8 Byeollae Extension, and More to Open Starting Next Year

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Holds Metropolitan Transportation Public Forum
Creating 1-Hour Living Zones in Regional Metropolitan Areas through Expansion of Metropolitan Rail Network
Reducing Commuting Public Transportation Costs via K-Pass

The 수도권광역급행철도 (GTX)-A line from Suseo to Dongtan (March 2024), Seoul Subway Line 8 extension to Byeollae (2024), Sinansan Line (2025), and Seoul Subway Line 7 extension to Okjeong (2026) will be opened sequentially.

On the 6th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced the current status and achievements of metropolitan transportation through the 'Metropolitan Transportation National Meeting' held at Dongtan Station in Hwaseong City, stating that they are rapidly advancing the national agenda to establish a 30-minute commute in the metropolitan area and a 1-hour living zone in local metropolitan areas.

Metropolitan Area Express Railway (GTX) opening and construction plans. [Data provided by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport]

Starting with the early opening of the GTX-A Suseo to Dongtan section at the end of March next year, they will realize 30-minute travel times in the metropolitan area, and plans for GTX extensions and new lines will be organized and announced by the end of this year.

Additionally, three projects including the Seoul Subway Line 8 extension to Byeollae, Sinansan Line, and Seoul Subway Line 7 extension to Okjeong are planned to open sequentially. Six metropolitan railway projects will also commence construction: Shinbundang Line from Gwanggyo to Homaesil (2024), Seoul Subway Line 7 extension to Pocheon (2024), Daejang Hongdae Line (2025), Goyang Eunpyeong Line (2025), Seoul Subway Line 9 extensions to Gangdong, Hanam, and Namyangju (2025), and Seoul Subway Line 3 extension to Hanam (2026).

Metropolitan Railroad Project Opening Plan. [Provided by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport]

Furthermore, the Ministry plans to swiftly promote new projects such as Wirye Gwacheon Line, 2nd Gyeongin Line and Shinguro Line, and Sinansan Line extension to Seoul Station through private investment methods.

They will reduce railway blind spots and greatly improve mobility convenience in new towns by sufficiently supplying metropolitan buses and expanding BRT.

From next year, ongoing projects such as Daegu area Phase 1 (Gumi to Gyeongsan), Taehwagang to Songjeong, and Chungcheong area Phase 1 (Gyeryong to Sintanjin) metropolitan railways will be managed to open on schedule, actively promoting the establishment of major metropolitan railway networks to realize a 1-hour living zone in local metropolitan areas.

Five pilot projects (Busan to Yangsan to Ulsan, Gwangju to Naju, Daejeon to Sejong to Chungbuk, Yongmun to Hongcheon, Daegu to Gyeongbuk) are being expedited by selecting one project per local region, with plans to complete preliminary feasibility studies by 2026.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will also actively promote the introduction of the Korean-style public transportation fare refund system, ‘K-Pass,’ by the first half of next year to allow the public to use the densely built metropolitan transportation network without burden.

K-Pass refunds a certain percentage (20-53%) of the fare when public transportation is used regularly 21 times or more per month.

It is designed to provide greater benefits to low-income groups who feel a relatively heavy burden of public transportation costs, and plans to consider applying it to GTX, which will bring a transportation revolution in the metropolitan area.

Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, “Through bold investment and rapid progress, we will reduce the burden of commuting for the people and give back their precious time.”