Seven Metropolitan Local Governments Jointly Urge Ruling and Opposition Parties to Adopt Gyeongbu Line Railway Undergrounding as Presidential Election Pledge

Chairman Heeyoung Park Stresses,
"It Must Be Reflected in Presidential Election Pledges"

Seven local governments in the Seoul metropolitan area, including Yongsan-gu in Seoul, have officially requested both the ruling and opposition presidential election committees to ensure that the undergrounding of the Gyeongbu Line railway between Seoul Station and Dangjeong Station (Gunpo) is included as a pledge in the 21st presidential election.

The Gyeongbu Line Railway Underground Promotion Council (Chairman: Heeyoung Park, Mayor of Yongsan-gu) announced on May 16 that it had delivered a joint proposal to the central election committees of the People Power Party and the Democratic Party of Korea, urging them to reflect the Gyeongbu Line underground pilot project and comprehensive plan in their platforms. The council consists of seven local governments: Yongsan-gu, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Dongjak-gu, Guro-gu, Geumcheon-gu in Seoul, and Gunpo-si and Anyang-si in Gyeonggi Province.

Heeyoung Park, chairman of the Gyeongbu Line Underground Promotion Council (fourth from the left), is taking a commemorative photo at the joint proposal declaration ceremony for the Gyeongbu Line underground pilot project and comprehensive plan reflection. Provided by Yongsan-gu.

Since its opening in 1904, the Gyeongbu Line has been an above-ground railway traversing the Seoul metropolitan area from north to south for more than 120 years. This section has caused various problems, including urban area disconnection, noise and vibration damage, deterioration of the urban landscape, and aging of the surrounding residential environment.

In response, the government enacted the "Integrated Railway Underground Development Act" in January this year, and in February designated three locations?Busan, Daejeon, and Ansan?as priority sites for railway underground projects. For the metropolitan area section, the government plans to develop a promotion plan through additional consultations with local governments.

Since its establishment in 2012, the council has continued its efforts to realize the undergrounding of the Gyeongbu Line (Seoul Station to Dangjeong Station) by conducting a joint study on the basic plan for undergrounding, reflecting the project in the 4th National Railway Network Construction Plan, and urging the selection of the section as a pilot project site.

Chairman Heeyoung Park stated, "As the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's announcement of the pilot project has been delayed compared to the original plan, residents' expectations and concerns are mixed." She emphasized, "The undergrounding of the Gyeongbu Line is not merely about relocating tracks underground but is a national task that will reshape the future urban structure of the metropolitan area." She added, "Reflecting the wishes of local residents, we strongly hope that the undergrounding project from Seoul Station to Dangjeong Station will be adopted as a pledge in the 21st presidential election, so that long-standing regional disconnection can be resolved and innovative transportation infrastructure for future generations can be realized as soon as possible."

The joint proposal underscores that the undergrounding of the Gyeongbu Line is a key task for alleviating traffic congestion, improving residential environments, revitalizing urban centers, and innovating the future urban structure. It conveys the strong determination of the seven local governments, urging both ruling and opposition presidential candidates to include this project in their campaign pledges.