Gyeongju Democratic Party Committee Holds Launch Ceremony for Citizen Signature Campaign Calling for Enactment of the Abandoned Railway Act

Chairman Han Youngtae: "The Core of Legislative Efforts Lies in Citizen Participation and Solidarity"

The Gyeongju City Regional Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea (Chairman Han Youngtae) officially launched a citizen signature campaign on October 15 in front of the old Gyeongju Station, calling for the enactment of the Abandoned Railway Act and marking the official start of a legislative movement led by Gyeongju citizens.

This event was held to establish a legislative foundation for transforming Gyeongju's abandoned railway sites into assets for urban development and to encourage collaboration between citizens and the political community.

The launching ceremony included welcoming remarks from Chairman Han Youngtae, a progress report and explanation of the campaign's purpose, speeches by citizens, the reading of the declaration for the campaign's launch, and a signature performance.

In his remarks, Chairman Han Youngtae emphasized, "The abandoned railways in Gyeongju are not remnants of the past but assets for the future, and they must be revived through the power of our citizens," adding, "The core of this legislative effort lies in citizen participation and solidarity."

Next, Youth Committee Chair Joo Mi explained the process from the urban management plan revision service that began in 2020 to the final report meeting in 2023, highlighting the development stagnation caused by administrative delays and a lack of legal basis.

She stressed, "Under the current 'Guidelines for the Utilization of Idle Railway Land,' it is difficult for local governments to independently pursue development," and emphasized the need to secure national support and an institutional foundation through legislation.

Citizens Bang Hyunwoo and Shin Suyeon, who spoke at the event, appealed for the prompt enactment of the law, saying, "The neglect of abandoned railway sites is causing the city center to deteriorate and increasing inconvenience for citizens."

In the "Citizen Declaration Calling for the Enactment of the Abandoned Railway Act," jointly read by Multicultural Committee Chair Nam Umo and Farmers and Fishermen Committee Chair Choi Gyuhak, it was declared, "Abandoned stations and railways are not just traces of the past but the foundation for the future, and Gyeongju must become a model city nationwide through the enactment of this law."

Chairman Han Youngtae then made the first signature, signaling the official start of the signature campaign.

After the event, citizens continued to voluntarily sign, and the Gyeongju City Regional Committee plans to continue the campaign through offline booths and an online signature Google Form.

Notably, in September, Assemblyman Kim Seokki (People Power Party) and Assemblyman Min Hongchul (Democratic Party of Korea) held a bipartisan joint forum to accelerate legislative discussions, helping to foster nationwide consensus across party lines for the enactment of the Abandoned Railway Act.

The Gyeongju City Regional Committee stated, "This signature campaign is more than just a demand for legislation; it is a historic first step for citizens to design the future of Gyeongju themselves," adding, "Every single signature from Gyeongju citizens will become the driving force that moves the National Assembly and the government."

The collected signatures will be officially submitted to the National Assembly and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and will be used in the legislative petition process for the enactment of the Abandoned Railway Act.