"Nationwide 2-Hour Living Zone by High-Speed Rail... Introduction of Designated Seats for Pregnant Women on KTX"

'2025 Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Major Work Promotion Plan'
Accelerating the Construction of the '4x4 High-Speed Rail Network'
Support for Vulnerable Groups Including Designated KTX Seats for Pregnant Women
K-Pass Introduces Up to 50% Discount for Families with Multiple Children

The government will realize a nationwide two-hour living zone through the establishment of a high-speed rail network. Along with this, support for transportation-vulnerable groups will be strengthened by introducing designated seats for pregnant women on KTX trains. This aims to ensure that pregnant women can fully enjoy discount benefits. On the 13th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced the '2025 Major Work Promotion Plan of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport' at the Government Seoul Office, which includes these measures.

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The transportation network will be constructed to connect the entire country densely. In the case of railroads, in addition to metropolitan areas located on the Gyeongbu and Honam high-speed lines, the construction of a '4×4 high-speed rail network' that can quickly connect major nationwide hubs will be accelerated. In the second half of this year, high-speed rail projects such as the opening of the Boseong?Imseongri section on the Gyeongjeon line and the commencement of construction on the Suseo?Gwangju section of the Jungbu Inland line and the Gimcheon?Geoje section will be promoted. Through this, the plan is to realize a nationwide two-hour living zone and enable 90% of the population to use high-speed rail services.

Main road networks will also be continuously expanded. First, two highways (86.0 km) including Pohang?Yeongdeok and Saemangeum?Jeonju, and 18 national roads (145.6 km) including Chungcheong Inland and Taebaek?Miro will be opened within the year. Two highways (42.7 km) including Busan New Port?Gimhae and Gyeyang?Ganghwa, and 16 national roads (145.2 km) including Namyangju?Chuncheon and Gochang Heungdeok?Buan Haengan will begin construction.

Existing new airport projects will also proceed without delay, including the start of design for Daegu-Gyeongbuk Integrated New Airport in the first half of the year and the commencement of construction for Gadukdo New Airport in the second half.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will also support transportation and logistics services that anyone can conveniently use. In the first half of the year, to improve group mobility convenience for wheelchair users, multi-passenger special transportation means will be introduced, and a nationwide integrated reservation system will be pilot-operated. In the second half, designated seats for pregnant women will be newly introduced on KTX trains. A ministry official said, "Pregnant women are expected to have less burden when booking seats even during peak demand times such as weekends," adding, "If designated seats for pregnant women are vacant, general users can book them."

Additionally, in logistics blind spots such as mountainous areas where additional delivery fees occur, one delivery driver will be allowed to deliver goods from multiple courier companies simultaneously, and drone delivery will be expanded in island areas.

'K-Pass,' which has been used by 2,658,000 people since its launch in May last year, will newly introduce multi-child discounts (30% refund for two children, 50% refund for three or more children). The applicable regions will also expand from the existing 189 to 210 local governments. Along with this, to reduce mileage disadvantages caused by the corporate merger of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, aviation service evaluations will be conducted twice a year, and 'Aviation Consumer Protection Measures 2.0' will be prepared in the first half of the year.

Furthermore, navigation will be made available without interruption even inside tunnels. The ministry plans to install GPS for the first time in the Cheongha Tunnel (5.4 km) on the Pohang?Yeongdeok highway, which will open at the end of the year.

The ministry has decided to improve the system so that delivery drivers can focus on their primary task of delivering goods. The scope of parcel sorting work will be clarified (by revising the standard contract), and key matters such as consignment areas will be mandatorily reflected in contracts.

In addition, in the first half of the year, affordable mutual aid insurance products will be increased to reduce the insurance subscription burden for delivery riders, and in the second half, delivery platform companies will be required to mandatorily verify riders' paid transportation insurance through system improvements. To protect freight truck owners from multi-level transactions and false listings, the plan also includes establishing a freight transportation platform business within the freight transportation industry.