Hong Jun-pyo and Hong Ik-pyo 'Join Forces'... "Moonlight High-Speed Rail to be Processed Within the Year"

"Moonlight High-Speed Rail Special Act to be Passed in December National Assembly Plenary Session"
Hong Jun-pyo "Request for Research Service Expenses"... Hong Ik-pyo "Efforts to Reflect"

Daegu Mayor Hong Jun-pyo and Hong Ik-pyo, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, met in Daegu and agreed on the passage of the 'Dalbit High-Speed Railway Special Act' within this year.

On the 16th, Mayor Hong met with Floor Leader Hong at the Sanggyeok Office of Daegu City Hall and said, "The Dalbit High-Speed Railway Special Act was proposed through bipartisan cooperation," adding, "Please ensure its passage in the National Assembly plenary session in December, and if the bill passes, also allocate the budget for the research project." He continued, "There are no national projects in the provinces that can pass the preliminary feasibility study," and urged, "If the National Assembly decides, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance will follow, so please handle it within this session."

Daegu Mayor Hong Jun-pyo and Democratic Party floor leader Hong Ik-pyo are greeting each other on the 16th at the Sanggyeok Office of Daegu City Hall in Buk-gu, Daegu.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

In response, Floor Leader Hong Ik-pyo said, "Our country's economic and social structure is centered on the Seoul metropolitan area, so it is necessary to connect Daegu-Gyeongbuk and Honam from east to west to enhance synergy," and "Since the last regular session of the National Assembly is on December 8, I will manage it well so that the special act can be passed in the plenary session around that time." Regarding the 'allocation of the research project budget,' he added, "If the special act passes the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee by November 30, I will try to have at least part of the research budget reflected."

The Dalbit High-Speed Railway Special Act was originally proposed in August by Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, with 261 lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties co-sponsoring it. The special act includes provisions such as exemption from the preliminary feasibility study and development of areas around high-speed railway stations.

The Democratic Party has recently emphasized the 'passage within this year' of the Dalbit High-Speed Railway Special Act as part of highlighting the logic of balanced regional development in opposition to the ruling party's 'Mega Seoul' initiative. On the 9th, Floor Leader Hong pointed out at the party's Policy Coordination Committee held at the National Assembly, "The Dalbit High-Speed Railway Special Act is a symbol of east-west harmony and the optimal project for regional balanced development," adding, "The problem lies in the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's attitude, which openly opposes this bill that includes grounds for exemption from the preliminary feasibility study for early construction of the Dalbit High-Speed Railway, citing a forecast of 'lack of economic feasibility.'"