Gyeongbu Expressway Phase 2 Delayed for 17 Years... "They Said Railroads Would Come, But It's Mostly False Hope" [2024 National Audit]

29 Years of Suwon~Incheon Double-Track Railway Project
Korea Rail Network Authority Unspent 2.0797 Trillion Won Last Year
Assemblyman Jeong Junho Urges Swift Budget Execution to Improve Railway Blind Spots

Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Contrary to the government's initial plans, most railway construction projects are experiencing delays. According to data received by Jeong Jun-ho, a member of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee from the Korea Rail Network Authority on the 11th, only 5 out of 44 ongoing railway construction projects are proceeding as scheduled.

The Gyeongbu High-Speed Line Phase 2 project, originally scheduled for completion in 2010, has been delayed by 17 years and is now expected to be completed in 2027. The Boseong~Imseong-ri railway, initially planned for completion in 2011, is delayed by 14 years; the Janghang Line Improvement Phase 2, scheduled for 2016, is delayed by 11 years; and the Pohang~Samcheok railway, planned for 2014, is delayed by 10 years.

There were also cases where the project start itself was delayed. The Icheon~Mungyeong railway, originally scheduled to begin in 2005, only started in 2014, nine years later. The double-track electrification of Yeoju~Wonju, which was supposed to start in 2016, only broke ground this year.

Many long-term railway projects are still ongoing. The Suwon~Incheon double-track electrification began in 1995 and has been under construction for 29 years as of this year.

According to the original plans, 22 projects should have already been completed, but as of September this year, they are still under construction. The Dongducheon~Yeoncheon electrification was planned to be completed between 2010 and 2016 but remains under construction.

Excluding 12 projects confirmed after 2020 that are currently in the design phase, only 5 out of the remaining 32 projects are proceeding according to the original schedule. Among these, except for the Gangneung~Jejin railway construction project, the other 4 projects (Gwanggyo~Homaesil Shinbundang Line, Yongsan~Sangbong Metropolitan Railway, GTX-C, GTX-B) are all located in the Seoul metropolitan area.

Although railway construction is progressing at a snail's pace, budget execution this year has been sluggish. Out of the current year's budget of 5.5157 trillion won, only 2.45 trillion won had been spent by September, showing an execution rate of 44.4%. Representative examples include the Janghang Line double-track electrification at 12.2% and the Sinansan Line double-track electrification at 22.0%.

Last year, 2.0797 trillion won of the government’s contributions to the Authority remained unspent. This resulted in bank interest of 27 billion won, marking a record high.

Assemblyman Jeong pointed out, "The Korea Rail Network Authority explained that project delays are due to delays in consultations with related agencies and re-examination of project feasibility, but since most ongoing projects experience repeated annual delays, a fundamental solution is needed."

He added, "From the perspective of local residents, it is hard to understand why railway construction plans announced more than 10 years ago remain incomplete. We must focus on improving railway blind spots through rapid budget execution and shortening construction periods."