Seoul Line 5 Gimpo Geomdan Extension 'Mediation Proposal' Advances Preliminary Feasibility Study and Main Project

Daegwangwi Includes Line 5 Gimpo Geomdan Extension in 'Main Project'
Five New Projects Reflected Including Local GTX and Metropolitan Railroads

The Seoul Subway Line 5 extension project to Gimpo Geomdan, which had been delayed due to conflicts between Incheon City and Gimpo City in Gyeonggi Province, is now back on track. It has been confirmed as a main project in the 4th Metropolitan Area Wide-area Transportation Implementation Plan (2021?2025), allowing follow-up administrative procedures such as the preliminary feasibility study (hereafter referred to as the pre-feasibility study) to proceed.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Metropolitan Area Wide-area Transportation Committee (hereafter referred to as the MAWTC) announced on the 6th that it held a plenary session and deliberated and approved the amendment to the wide-area transportation implementation plan accordingly. At the meeting, a total of six new wide-area railway projects were designated.

First, the Line 5 Gimpo Geomdan extension project, which had been stalled due to disagreements between local governments since 2018, has been reflected in the wide-area transportation implementation plan and will be actively promoted. This project involves extending Subway Line 5, which currently terminates at Banghwa-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, to Geomdan New Town and Gimpo Hangang New Town, aiming to alleviate commuting difficulties for new town residents traveling to and from Seoul.

However, due to disagreements between local governments over the route, it was included as an "additional review project" when the wide-area transportation implementation plan was established in 2021. The two local governments clashed over the route and the establishment of new stations. In response, the MAWTC proposed a mediation plan in January this year. Among the routes proposed by Gimpo City and Incheon City, the sections from Seoul Banghwa to Gimpo Pungmu and from Gimpo Janggi to Yangchon were accepted as is, but two stations within Incheon were included, and the station at Bulrodalgok-dong was adjusted to Gamjeong-dong in Gimpo. Initially, Incheon City proposed a 'U'-shaped route passing through Geomdan New Town, hoping to install four stations within its jurisdiction, but the mediation plan only reflected the route shape.

As conflicts continued, the MAWTC held a public hearing on the 12th of last month and suggested proceeding promptly with administrative procedures such as the pre-feasibility study based on the mediation plan, while reviewing additional station establishments and route paths later through consultations among local governments and related agencies. Both Incheon City and Gimpo City agreed to proceed with the administrative procedures promptly. The MAWTC plans to consult with financial authorities to simplify procedures as much as possible and immediately apply for the pre-feasibility study. The total extension length is 25.56 km, with a project cost exceeding 3 trillion won.

Alongside this, the Daejeon?Sejong?Chungbuk wide-area express railway (CTX), operating at the same speed as the Metropolitan Area Express Railway (GTX) with a maximum speed of 180 km/h, and the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport wide-area express railway were included as new wide-area railway projects. The Gimcheon?Gumi Daegu area wide-area railway phase 2, Dongtan?Cheongju Airport wide-area railway, and Yongmun?Hongcheon wide-area railway were also included as new projects. These five wide-area railway projects will receive up to 70% national funding support if the projects are confirmed through related procedures such as the pre-feasibility study.

Kang Hee-up, chairman of the MAWTC, said, "Through this amendment to the wide-area transportation implementation plan, the Seoul Line 5 Gimpo Geomdan extension project has entered the main track," adding, "We will do our best to expedite procedures such as the pre-feasibility study application to quickly resolve transportation inconveniences for residents in the Gimpo and Incheon areas."