Yeongju Urges Inclusion of Central Region East-West Railway in National Plan... Acting Mayor Lee Jaehun Joins SNS Challenge

Lee Jaehun, Acting Mayor of Yeongju, Gyeongbuk Province, participated on May 26 in the SNS relay challenge urging the inclusion of the Central Region East-West Transversal Railway in the 5th National Railroad Network Construction Plan.

Lee Jaehun, Acting Mayor of Yeongju, is participating in the SNS relay challenge urging the inclusion of the Central Region East-West Transversal Railway in the 5th National Railroad Network Construction Plan as a new project. Provided by Yeongju City

This challenge is a campaign aimed at raising awareness of the necessity to include the Central Region East-West Railway in the 5th National Railroad Network Construction Plan, which is scheduled to be announced in the second half of 2025, and at building public consensus on the issue.

The campaign began in Seosan, Chungnam Province, on April 30, and so far, the heads of local governments from a total of 13 cities and counties, spanning from the west coast to the east coast, have participated.

Acting Mayor Lee joined the challenge after being nominated by Kim Hakdong, the Mayor of Yecheon County, and nominated Park Hyunkuk, the Mayor of Bonghwa County, as the next participant.

The Central Region East-West Transversal Railway is a national project with a total length of approximately 330 kilometers and a project cost of about 7 trillion won. It is a key east-west national transportation network that will connect Seosan in Chungnam Province to Uljin in Gyeongbuk Province within two hours. This route is the only missing east-west railway in the central region within the national railway network, and the project is expected to promote balanced regional development by linking industry, logistics, and tourism.

Acting Mayor Lee stated, "The Central Region East-West Railway will serve as a strategic foundation for achieving national balanced development," adding, "We will also actively respond to the passage of special legislation for exemption from the preliminary feasibility study and other related matters."