Bill Exempting Preliminary Feasibility Study for Line 5 Extension
Passed by National Assembly Planning and Finance Committee Economic and Fiscal Subcommittee
The Democratic Party of Korea on the 23rd unilaterally passed an amendment to the National Finance Act that exempts the preliminary feasibility study (PFS) for the project to extend Subway Line 5 to Gimpo. This is interpreted as a countermeasure against the People Power Party's push to incorporate Gimpo City into Seoul ahead of next year's general election.
On the 23rd, the Democratic Party unilaterally handled the amendment to the National Finance Act exempting the preliminary feasibility study (PFS) for the extension project of Seoul Subway Line 5 to Geomdan and Gimpo at the National Assembly's Planning and Finance Committee's Economic and Fiscal Subcommittee. The People Power Party boycotted the subcommittee and did not attend in protest of the unilateral decision.
The amendment to the National Finance Act, proposed by Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Ju-young, whose constituency includes Gimpo, exempts PFS for metropolitan transportation facility expansion projects that include border areas with populations exceeding 500,000. The purpose is to promote the construction of transportation networks in underdeveloped border areas with poor infrastructure. Analysis shows that the route proposed by Gimpo City requires at least 2.3 trillion won, and if following Incheon City's proposal, 2.6 trillion won would be needed. Since it is a metropolitan railway passing through multiple cities and provinces, 70% of the cost will be covered by national funds, with the remaining 30% shared by Gyeonggi Province, Gimpo City, and Incheon City.
After the unilateral passage of the PFS exemption bill for Line 5, Democratic Party members of the Planning and Finance Committee held a press conference stating, "Although bipartisan agreement was expected on this matter, it almost failed to pass due to the People Power Party's boycott of the subcommittee," and expressed regret that "it could only proceed through the Democratic Party's unilateral passage."
Members of the People Power Party on the Planning and Finance Committee immediately opposed the ruling party's unilateral handling of the bill. In a statement released that day, ruling party lawmakers criticized, "This amendment is effectively a law to completely block PFS, a law discriminating against regions, and a law abandoning the National Assembly," and warned, "The Democratic Party's populist legislative rampage ahead of next year's election will lead to the collapse of national finances."
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