Yeongnam and Honam Governors, Lawmakers Urge Exemption from Preliminary Feasibility Study for "Dalbit Railroad"

Joint Declaration at the National Assembly
"Five Mega-Regions, Three Special Zones, and Balanced Growth"
"Despite Being a National Policy Task, Progress Stalled... Government Must Take Concrete Action"

On the 17th, at the National Assembly's Third Seminar Room, governors from Yeongnam and Honam regions and members of the National Assembly from areas along the Dalbit Railroad held a joint declaration urging the exemption of the preliminary feasibility study for the Dalbit Railroad, followed by a commemorative photo. Provided by Gwangju City

On September 17, governors from Yeongnam and Honam regions, as well as National Assembly members representing areas along the Dalbit Railroad between Gwangju and Daegu, issued a joint declaration at the National Assembly urging confirmation of the exemption from the preliminary feasibility study for the Dalbit Railroad.

Six governors, including Kang Gijung, Mayor of Gwangju, and Kim Jeonggi, Acting Mayor of Daegu, along with National Assembly members from regions along the Dalbit Railroad, held a press conference that day in the Third Seminar Room of the National Assembly, calling for the prompt advancement of the Dalbit Railroad construction project.

In their joint declaration, they defined the Dalbit Railroad construction project as "a symbol of East-West harmony and a core project for balanced national development that will create a new axis of growth for South Korea."

They pointed out, "Although a special law for the construction of the Dalbit Railroad was enacted and promulgated last year with the joint sponsorship of 261 lawmakers-the largest number in the history of the National Assembly-the exemption from the preliminary feasibility study has not been granted, leaving the project unable to even begin."

They emphasized, "The construction of the Dalbit Railroad is not merely a long-standing regional aspiration, but a timely demand and task for building a country where everyone prospers together. The Dalbit Railroad, which will connect six major local governments from Gwangju through South and North Jeolla, South and North Gyeongsang, and Daegu, will serve as a vast corridor facilitating not only the movement of people and goods, but also the exchange of industry, talent, and culture across regions."

They also stated, "The Lee Jaemyung administration has set 'balanced growth for all' as a national policy goal in its five-year governance plan, presenting a region-led balanced growth strategy centered on five mega-regions and three special zones. The government task list includes a plan to expand the coverage of high-speed rail from 39% to 53% through the establishment of a 4x4 high-speed rail network, both east-west and north-south, including the Dalbit Railroad."

Through their joint declaration, they called for: ▲ the implementation of practical measures to promote the Dalbit Railroad construction project, which has been confirmed as a government policy task; ▲ the prompt confirmation of the exemption from the preliminary feasibility study as specified in the Dalbit Railroad Special Act; and ▲ a promise of comprehensive government support and cooperation for the creation of a mega economic zone in the southern region.

Meanwhile, the "Dalbit Railroad" is a 198.8-kilometer east-west railway connecting Gwangju and Daegu. Starting from Gwangju, it passes through six provinces and metropolitan cities-South Jeolla (Damyang), North Jeolla (Sunchang, Namwon, Jangsu), South Gyeongsang (Hamyang, Geochang, Hapcheon), North Gyeongsang (Goryeong), and Daegu-covering ten cities, counties, and districts along its route.