"No Longer an Isolated Area"... Haenam Connected Nationwide by 1.6 Trillion Won Railway

First Train Station Opens in 82 Years
Mokpo-Busan Travel Time Cut by 2 Hours
KTX Era to Fully Begin in 2030

With the official opening of the Boseong-Mokpo railway section connecting the southwestern coastal region of Jeollanam-do on September 27, Haenam County has, for the first time in its history, established a rail transportation network. This 82.5-kilometer section from Boseong to Imsong-ri in Mokpo was the last disconnected segment of the southern coastal railway axis, and its opening marks the completion of the southern coastal main railway network.

A welcoming event was held at the newly constructed Haenam Station in Gyegok-myeon, Haenam County to commemorate the opening. On the morning of the 27th, at 8:02 a.m., bouquets were presented to passengers of the first Saemaeul train departing from Mokpo Station, and a welcoming ceremony was also held for group tourists arriving on the Namdo Marine Tourism Train (S-train) from Busan.

A welcoming event was held at the newly opened Haenam Station to celebrate the official opening of the Boseong-Mokpo railway section connecting the southwestern coastal area of Jeollanam-do. Photo by Haenam County

County Governor Myeong Hyun-gwan stated, "I am deeply moved to personally greet tourists arriving in Haenam by train from Busan at the station," adding, "With the Haenam railway, a new era of tourism will open at the southern tip of Korea, connecting Yeongnam and Honam, and the entire nation."

With the opening of the Boseong-Mokpo line, direct train service is now possible from Mokpo through Boseong and Suncheon to Busan, significantly improving rail accessibility between major cities along the southern coast. The travel time between Mokpo and Bujeon (Busan) has been reduced by more than two hours, and the Mokpo-Boseong section has been shortened from the previous 150 minutes to just 65 minutes. Currently, the route is served four times daily (two Saemaeul trains and two Mugunghwa trains), and the Mokpo-Suncheon section operates eight times a day.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport expects that, once the Gwangju Songjeong-Boseong-Suncheon electrification project is completed in 2030, KTX-Eum trains will also be able to operate directly between Mokpo and Busan. As part of this project, six new stations have been established: Sinboseong, Jangdong, Jeonnam Jangheung, Gangjin, Haenam, and Yeongam. The total project cost amounted to 1.6459 trillion won.

Haenam Station is a newly constructed, single-story building with a total floor area of 660 square meters and features an unmanned automatic system remotely operated from Gangjin Station. To minimize confusion during the initial phase of operation, the county will deploy tourism guides to assist on site and plans to connect direct buses and rural bus routes between Haenam-eup and the station according to train arrival times.

Haenam has long remained a blind spot for rail transportation, but with this railway opening, connectivity with the Seoul metropolitan area and the Yeongnam region is expected to improve significantly. In particular, as the influx of stay-type tourists linked to the Namdo Marine Tourism Train gains momentum, positive ripple effects are anticipated not only for the local tourism industry but also for accommodation, food, and the regional economy as a whole. The county is also working to transform itself into a transportation hub for the southwestern region by expanding not only the railway but also expressways and local roads through various initiatives.

A county official stated, "This railway opening will strengthen residents' mobility rights and revitalize the regional economy through increased tourism," adding, "This railway, starting from the southern tip, will serve as an opportunity to embody the meaning of balanced national development."