Jeongseon County Launches All-Out Effort to Include KTX Pyeongchang-Jeongseon Line in 5th National Railway Network Plan

United Voices: 100,000 Signature Campaign Underway
Seoul to Jeongseon in Just 1 Hour 20 Minutes
Balanced Development Anticipated for Southern Gangwon

Jeongseon County in Gangwon Province is making every effort to ensure the inclusion of the new KTX Pyeongchang-Jeongseon Line in the 5th National Railway Network Plan (2026-2035).

Jeongseon County is conducting a petition campaign for the inclusion of the "KTX Pyeongchang-Jeongseon Line in the 5th National Railway Network Plan" at the "1st Jeongseon Donggang Marathon." Provided by Jeongseon County

The KTX Pyeongchang-Jeongseon Line will branch off from Pyeongchang Station on the KTX Gyeonggang Line (Gangneung Line), which currently runs from Seoul (Cheongnyangni) to Gangneung, and will connect Jeongseon Station and Sabuk Station. The route will span a total of 56.4 kilometers, including 24.5 kilometers of new construction and 31.9 kilometers of upgrades. The total project cost is expected to be approximately 1.0941 trillion won.

Once the line opens, travel time from Seoul to Jeongseon, which currently takes over three hours, will be dramatically reduced to around one hour and twenty minutes, significantly improving accessibility.

The southern region of Gangwon, including Jeongseon, was once a hub of South Korea's industrial development. However, following the closure of mines, the area has faced rapid population decline and economic stagnation. Despite these challenges, residents have sought new growth engines in various sectors such as tourism, culture, sports, agriculture, and forestry, striving for regional revitalization.

However, poor accessibility-requiring more than three to four hours of travel from the Seoul metropolitan area-has always been a major obstacle to regional development. With the opening of the KTX Pyeongchang-Jeongseon Line, a circular railway network connecting the southern Gangwon region, the East Coast, Taebaek, Samcheok, and Donghae will be completed, greatly enhancing accessibility for tourism and logistics. Furthermore, connectivity with southern regions such as Andong and Daegu will be strengthened, which is expected to significantly contribute to balanced national development.

In particular, Kangwon Land, located in Jeongseon County, faces difficulties due to poor transportation infrastructure, resulting in decreased visitor numbers, as well as the spread of illegal online gambling sites. Recently, major Southeast Asian countries and Japan have seen large-scale, government-backed investments in integrated resort casinos. Notably, Osaka, Japan, is constructing a massive resort with substantial funding from MGM of the United States, aiming to open in 2030.

KTX Pyeongchang-Jeongseon Line. Provided by Jeongseon County

While overseas casino facilities such as those in Japan can be reached by plane within two hours, Kangwon Land continues to suffer from unfavorable transportation conditions, as it takes more than two hours by road from the Seoul metropolitan area, weakening its international competitiveness. Improving accessibility is essential for Kangwon Land to grow into a world-class integrated resort, and the KTX Pyeongchang-Jeongseon Line is considered a crucial infrastructure for enhancing Kangwon Land's global competitiveness and revitalizing the domestic tourism industry.

Since September 1, Jeongseon County has been conducting a petition campaign to gather 100,000 signatures from residents in support of including the KTX Pyeongchang-Jeongseon Line in the plan. The campaign is being actively carried out through participation from local community organizations, government offices, hometown associations, and various national events, raising awareness of the project's necessity and legitimacy while uniting residents' voices.

Meanwhile, the 5th National Railway Network Plan has received proposals for about 160 projects nationwide, totaling approximately 360 trillion won, from metropolitan governments across the country. Fierce competition is expected, and the final plan will be confirmed and announced at the end of this year.

Choi Seungjun, Governor of Jeongseon County, stated, "The KTX Pyeongchang-Jeongseon Line is the lifeline of the southern Gangwon region and a key route for balanced development in South Korea. We will do our utmost to ensure its inclusion in the 5th National Railway Network Plan through close cooperation with resident petition campaigns, the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, the National Assembly, experts, and private networks."