Overcoming the Crisis of Regional Extinction...
Continuous Proposals for Introducing KTX on the Donghae Line
Efforts for the Construction of the North-South 10-Axis Expressway and the Central Region East-West Transversal Railway
As most local governments in the Republic of Korea face the crisis of regional extinction, there is a place that is writing a new history through change and challenge, continuing efforts to overcome regional extinction. That place is Uljin-gun.
Uljin-gun, Gyeongbuk Province, is continuing its efforts to overcome the crisis of regional extinction by securing future growth engines through the Nuclear Hydrogen National Industrial Complex, improving the quality of life for residents through systematic welfare, transforming foundational industries, and promoting stay-type tourism projects.
With the goal of a population of 100,000 and a regional gross production of 10 trillion won, Uljin-gun is moving toward building a hopeful Uljin. Another challenge to solve is the expansion of the metropolitan transportation network.
On January 1st, Uljin-gun officially opened the Donghae Line, marking the beginning of the railway era in Korea 130 years after the establishment of the Railway Bureau. However, there is still no expressway, and transportation conditions remain insufficient.
Accordingly, Uljin-gun is making every effort to improve the conditions of the metropolitan transportation network, including railways, expressways, and national roads, accelerating the path toward a hopeful Uljin.
First, regarding the Donghae Line opened this year, continuous discussions are underway to operate KTX in addition to the existing Nuriro and ITX trains. The construction of National Road No. 88 (Pyeonghae?Yeongyang) is scheduled to be completed in June this year, and compensation for the construction of Local Road No. 69 (Onjeong?Maehwa) is planned to begin.
However, above all, Uljin-gun, which still lacks an expressway, requires expansion of transportation infrastructure for hydrogen transport of the Nuclear Hydrogen National Industrial Complex as a K-Energy leader.
Currently, Uljin’s only roads are National Road No. 7 (Pohang?Samcheok) and National Road No. 36 (Uljin?Yeongju), making alternative transportation facilities necessary. Therefore, Uljin-gun is focusing on improving inefficient transportation conditions as well as establishing new road connections.
First, for National Road No. 36, the direction has been adjusted to increase passing lanes reflecting current conditions, and full efforts are being made together with National Assembly member Park Hyung-su.
Additionally, through the construction of the Central Region East-West Transversal Railway, the plan is to connect Yeongju’s Jungang Line and the Donghae Line to complete the Gyeongbuk circular railway. Efforts are also ongoing to connect the Uljin section excluded from the North-South Expressway extending from Yeongdeok to Samcheok.
Since the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is establishing the 3rd Expressway Construction Plan, the 5th National Railway Network Construction Plan, and the 6th Five-Year Construction Plan for National and Local Roads, Uljin-gun visited the Ministry on January 16th to request the inclusion of the North-South 10-axis Expressway Uljin section construction and the Central Region East-West Transversal Railway construction in the national basic plan.
At this meeting, the team leader in charge of the Uljin Nuclear Hydrogen National Industrial Complex from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy also attended, emphasizing that railways and expressways are essential for the development of Uljin-gun as a K-Energy leader.
In particular, since the county is carrying out a national project called the Nuclear Hydrogen National Industrial Complex, and with active support from Gyeongbuk Province and local members of the National Assembly, it is expected that the ongoing transportation network expansion plans will yield good results.
Uljin-gun plans to continue efforts to expand the metropolitan transportation network through ongoing consultations and proposals with related departments.
County Governor Son Byung-bok said, “The expansion of the metropolitan transportation network is an essential requirement for overcoming regional extinction and for the development of Uljin’s future,” adding, “We will continuously propose the connection of the North-South 10-axis Expressway Uljin section, the Central Region East-West Transversal Railway, and the early deployment of KTX by the end of the year to create opportunities for Uljin to leap forward again.”
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