Full Opening of Jungang Line High-Speed Rail... Wonju City Emerges as a Hub for 'Railway Connection'

On the 20th, KTX Operates Entire 420km Section from Cheongnyangni to Busan... Wonju to Busan in 3 Hours
'Second Gyeongbu High-Speed Rail' Connecting Seoul Metropolitan Area to Busan... "Wonju's Industry and Tourism Will Be Revitalized"

The double-tracking construction of the 71.3km section between Andong and Buk-Yeongcheon on the Jungang Line has been completed, opening the era of KTX operation on the entire 420km Jungang Line from Cheongnyangni to Busan (Bujeon Station) starting from the 20th.

At the opening ceremony of the entire 420km Jungang Line from Cheongnyangni to Busan (Bujeon Station) held on the 19th, Won Gang-su, mayor of Wonju City, is delivering a congratulatory speech. Photo by Wonju City Hall

This full opening of the Jungang Line holds great significance as it establishes another main longitudinal axis of the national territory by completing the 'Second Gyeongbu Line' connecting Seoul and Busan, diversifying travel routes.

Accordingly, the travel time from Wonju to Busan (Bujeon) has been reduced from 5 hours to 3 hours and 10 minutes, and by 2025, the speed on the Andong to Buk-Yeongcheon section is expected to increase from 150 km/h to 250 km/h, further reducing the travel time between Wonju and Busan to around 2 hours.

Won Gang-su, mayor of Wonju, stated, “With the opening of this Jungang Line, Wonju is positioned at the center of the railway connection linking 26 million people in the metropolitan area and 7.7 million in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam,” adding, “This will not only lead to industrial and tourism revitalization, positively impacting the regional economy, but also enhance connectivity between regions, increasing opportunities for cooperation and mutual growth among local governments.”