Regret Over Pre-Feasibility Study Failure...
Preparing an Alternative Route via Hyocheon Station
Pushing for Reapplication in Cooperation with Jeollanam-do and Naju
The Gwangju city government has expressed regret over the failure of the Gwangju~Naju Metropolitan Railroad construction project to pass the preliminary feasibility study (pre-feasibility study) by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and announced its intention to relaunch the project.
On July 10, the city pointed out that the failure to pass the pre-feasibility study was the result of insufficient reflection of the national policy objectives of expanding metropolitan railroads outside the Seoul metropolitan area and promoting balanced national development. The city stated that it would prepare an improved plan, including a route passing through Hyocheon Station, and make another attempt.
On this day, the Ministry of Economy and Finance held the '7th Fiscal Project Evaluation Committee of 2025' and reviewed and deliberated on the results of the pre-feasibility study for the Gwangju~Naju Metropolitan Railroad project. The Gwangju~Naju Metropolitan Railroad is a line with a total length of 26.5 kilometers, connecting Sangmu Station to the Gwangju-Jeonnam Joint Innovation City. It is a key project aimed at promoting balanced national development and expanding the metropolitan transportation system by organically linking major industrial hubs such as the Urban High-Tech Industrial Complex and the Energy Valley.
This project was included in the 4th National Railroad Network Construction Plan in 2021, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport conducted a preliminary feasibility study to determine the optimal alternative, including a route passing through Hyocheon Station. Since June 2023, the Ministry of Economy and Finance has been conducting the pre-feasibility study.
The city of Gwangju requested a change to a route passing through Hyocheon Station to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in order to secure demand, as the project requires a budget of over 200 billion won and annual operating costs of 13 billion won. However, this request was not accepted. Afterwards, the city worked together with Jeollanam-do and Naju, but ultimately failed to pass the pre-feasibility study threshold.
Kim Youngsun, Director of the Integrated Airport and Transportation Bureau, stated, "We plan to restructure the project with a route passing through Hyocheon in order to improve citizens' transportation accessibility and expand the metropolitan transportation network outside the Seoul metropolitan area," and added, "We will prepare an alternative that reflects realistic demand and aligns with national policy directions."
Meanwhile, the city plans to thoroughly analyze the results of this pre-feasibility study, prepare an improved plan that is highly responsive to citizens' needs, and swiftly proceed with follow-up procedures such as reapplying for the pre-feasibility study in cooperation with Jeollanam-do and Naju.
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