Seoul to Resume Expedited Pre-Feasibility Study for Wirye Sinsa Line

Ministry of Economy and Finance Selects Project for Expedited Pre-Feasibility Study
Project Faces Difficulties Such as Cancellations and Failed Bids
Project Method Changed from Private Investment to Public Funding

The long-stalled 'Wirye Sinsa Line Project' in Seoul is set to get back on track through an expedited preliminary feasibility study (pre-feasibility study).

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on April 30, the 'Wirye Sinsa Line Urban Railway Construction Project' was selected as a candidate for the expedited pre-feasibility study during a review by the Ministry of Economy and Finance's Fiscal Project Evaluation Committee on the same day.

Wirye Sinsa Line Urban Railway Map. Seoul City

The Wirye Sinsa Line is a light rail route connecting Wirye New Town to Sinsa Station (Line 3), and was first included in the 2008 Wirye New Town Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Plan. However, the project has faced long delays due to route adjustments and repeated withdrawals by private sector operators. In particular, in June of last year, final negotiations with the GS E&C consortium, which had been selected as the preferred bidder, broke down. Afterwards, the city attempted to attract private sector participation by adjusting the total project cost twice and easing project conditions, but the bidding ultimately failed again in November.

In response, the Seoul Metropolitan Government began consultations with relevant agencies to cancel the designation of the project as a private investment project through a review by the Ministry of Economy and Finance's Private Investment Project Deliberation Committee and to convert it into a publicly funded project. The expedited pre-feasibility study system has been in place since 2022 to enable timely responses to urgent economic and social policy needs. The final decision on whether to proceed with the expedited pre-feasibility study is made by the Fiscal Project Evaluation Committee of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and in the case of railway projects, the process takes nine months.

Additionally, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has decided to proceed with the procedure for the 'Second Revision of the Seoul Metropolitan Urban Railway Network Construction Plan' to reflect the change in the Wirye Sinsa Line project implementation method (from private investment to public funding). Yeo Jangkwon, Director of Transportation at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, "The selection of this project as a candidate for the expedited pre-feasibility study is the result of proactive administration by our city and the Ministry of Economy and Finance, who worked together to find the best possible solution instead of repeating conventional practices." He added, "We will continue to seek ways to shorten the project timeline so that the Wirye Sinsa Line Urban Railway Project can be implemented as soon as possible."