Uiryeong Governor Oh Taewan Meets Land Committee Lawmakers to Propose North-South Axis 6 Route Extension

Emphasizing the Justification for Uiryeong IC Construction
Importance of Regional Balanced Development Through Road Network Expansion

Oh Taewan, County Governor of Uiryeong in South Gyeongsang Province, visited the National Assembly on July 15 and met consecutively with members of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee to propose the extension of the North-South Axis 6 route and other issues.

On this day, Governor Oh met with Jeon Yonggi, a member of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, to explain key issues facing Uiryeong County. He particularly emphasized the necessity of extending the national road network's North-South Axis 6 and constructing the Uiryeong IC, and requested close cooperation from the committee at the parliamentary level.

Jeon Yonggi (left) and Oh Taewan (right), County Governor. Provided by Uiryeong County

The extension of the North-South Axis 6 expressway route refers to connecting the expressway from Jincheon to Hapcheon, as announced in the "2nd National Road Network Comprehensive Plan," further to Uiryeong and Haman. This project has long been a wish of Uiryeong residents, as Uiryeong is the only area in South Gyeongsang Province, excluding island regions, that lacks any wide-area transportation infrastructure.

Governor Oh expressed high expectations for the role of Jeon Yonggi, who was recently elected as the chairperson of the Budget and Fund Review Subcommittee (Budget Subcommittee) of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee in the National Assembly.

The Budget Subcommittee of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee is the body that practically coordinates the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's annual budget of around 60 trillion won. The chairperson plays a pivotal role in operating the subcommittee, reviewing the validity and priority of each project budget, and determining the direction of budget allocation through consultations between the ruling and opposition parties.

Governor Oh stressed, "Uiryeong is virtually isolated to the extent that the slogan 'guaranteeing non-discriminatory mobility rights' is meaningless. Expanding the road network is crucial for balanced regional development. Fortunately, an economic feasibility analysis has shown that the project is viable," adding, "The extension of the Uiryeong expressway is necessary to ensure the completeness of the national road network and to maximize the benefits of establishing the North-South Axis 6."

Uiryeong County reported, "Jeon Yonggi responded by saying, 'Regional mobility rights should be guaranteed as a matter of basic rights, and I will review all relevant matters as this is a realistic request.'"

Governor Oh then met with Jeong Jeomsik, another member of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, and stated, "Even considering the entire South Gyeongsang Province, the need to connect Uiryeong, which is at the center of the province, to the expressway is sufficient. As a National Assembly member from South Gyeongsang, I ask for your interest so that the extension of the North-South Axis 6 route can be included in the revised 2nd National Road Network Comprehensive Plan (2021-2030)."

Meanwhile, on the same day, Governor Oh also raised the issues of establishing the National Dictionary Museum and enacting a special law to support victims of the Uiryeong 4·26 Incident.