Mayor Lee Donghwan: "Launching Metropolitan Railway Expansion... Advancing as a Northwestern Seoul Transportation Hub"

Goyang City Proposes Inclusion of Goyang-Eunpyeong Line Ilsan Extension in National Master Plans
All-Out Efforts to Pass Preliminary Feasibility Study for Incheon Line 2 Goyang Extension

Goyang Special City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Donghwan) has begun full-scale efforts to expand its metropolitan railway network to improve accessibility to Seoul and revolutionize the transportation environment in the northwestern part of the Seoul metropolitan area.

Exterior view of Goyang Special City Hall. Provided by Goyang Special City.

In particular, as part of the main municipal goal of the 8th popularly elected administration to establish an "all-directional transportation hub network," the city proposed the inclusion of a new line for the Goyang-Eunpyeong Line Ilsan Extension Project in both the 5th National Rail Network Construction Plan and the 5th Metropolitan Area Transportation Implementation Plan in May and November of last year. Additionally, the extension of Incheon Line 2 to Goyang is currently undergoing a preliminary feasibility study.

The Goyang-Eunpyeong Line Ilsan Extension Project aims to extend the Goyang-Eunpyeong Line (Saejeol to Goyang City Hall) to the Siksadistrict. By establishing a metropolitan railway connecting Siksadistrict, Goyang City Hall, Saejeol, and southern Seoul, the city expects to significantly reduce commuting times to Seoul for its citizens and greatly enhance urban competitiveness.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Metropolitan Transport Commission are currently reviewing the feasibility of the projects proposed by local governments, with final decisions expected by the end of this year.

The Goyang-Eunpyeong Line is a 15-kilometer route connecting Saejeol Station and Goyang City Hall Station. After completing the basic design, the city plans to finish the detailed design in the second half of next year and aims to open the line in 2031.

The Incheon Line 2 Goyang Extension Project is currently undergoing a preliminary feasibility study by the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Korea Development Institute (KDI), with Goyang City working in cooperation with Gyeonggi Province, Gimpo City, and Incheon City to expedite approval.

If the project passes the preliminary feasibility study, the city plans to swiftly proceed with subsequent administrative steps, including establishing the basic plan and design.

The Incheon Line 2 Goyang Extension Project is a 19.6-kilometer line starting from Incheon Dokjeong Station, passing through Gimpo, and reaching Goyang City. Of this, 8.3 kilometers are within Goyang City. The project was selected as a target for the preliminary feasibility study by the Ministry of Economy and Finance in July 2023.

The city expects this line to create a vital link between railway infrastructure in the northwestern Seoul metropolitan area, promote balanced regional development, and generate synergy by securing self-sufficient facilities and economic opportunities in connection with key development projects such as the Free Economic Zone, K-Culture Valley, Ilsan Techno Valley, and Goyang Media Valley.

Lee Donghwan, Mayor of Goyang, stated, "The expansion of a dense metropolitan railway network, which has long been a wish of Goyang citizens, is the foundation for building a self-sufficient city that attracts jobs, young people, and businesses. We will work closely with the government to complete the foundation for Goyang to become a transportation hub in the northwestern Seoul metropolitan area."