Yangju Mayor Kang Su-hyun Discusses Measures to Revitalize the Reopening of the Gyoeoseon Line

Meeting with Vice President of Korea Railroad Corporation to Request Cooperation

Mayor Kang Su-hyun of Yangju City met with Jeong Jeong-rae, Vice President of Korea Railroad Corporation, who visited the city hall on the 18th, to discuss activation plans following the reopening of the Gyoeoseon Line and requested cooperation.

Yang Soo-hyun, Mayor of Yangju City (fourth from the left), met with Jung Jung-rae, Vice President of Korea Railroad Corporation, who visited the city hall on the 18th, to discuss activation plans following the reopening of the Gyoeoseon Line and requested cooperation, then took a commemorative photo. Provided by Yangju City

According to Yangju City on the 19th, the Gyoeoseon Line was opened in 1961 and operated from Goyang City in Gyeonggi Province through Yangju City to Uijeongbu City, but was suspended in 2004 due to operational deficits. Since then, through efforts by local governments, the line and station renovation works have been carried out, and operations are scheduled to resume this December.

The meeting was arranged to establish a cooperative system between institutions for the activation of the Gyoeoseon Line, including preparing tourism linkage plans and expanding user demand ahead of the resumption of operations after about 21 years of suspension.

At the meeting, Mayor Kang proposed the establishment of a tourism promotion center and facilities for tourists at Ilyeong Station, development of various tourism products, and joint promotion. He also requested measures to improve convenience for Ilyeong Station users, such as enhancing parking facilities.

Mayor Kang said, “For the successful operation of the Gyoeoseon Line, which is set to reopen this year, the activation of tourism projects is essential above all else,” and added, “We ask for the active cooperation of Korea Railroad Corporation to realize the proposed matters.”

Meanwhile, Yangju City is actively seeking various measures to revitalize the Gyoeoseon Line in connection with its reopening. In March, Mayor Kang benchmarked Bunchon Station in Bonghwa County, Gyeongbuk Province, to promote tourism around the Gyoeoseon Line, and in July, a Gyoeoseon Line-related support project was finally selected in the Gyeonggi Province-linked cooperative tourism policy consulting support contest. Additionally, on November 8, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups approved a three-year extension of the Jangheung Cultural Arts Experience Zone operation period as a policy including plans to develop various tourism programs linked to the opening of the Gyoeoseon Line.