"Shallow Waters and Stable Geology"
Optimal Conditions for Undersea Tunnel Construction
"Still Excluded from Transportation"
Inclusion Needed for National Balanced Development
The Wando County Council in South Jeolla Province has called on the government to include Wando as a stop on the Seoul-Jeju high-speed rail line.
On October 21, the council announced that it had adopted a resolution urging the inclusion of the Wando route in the national plan for the Seoul-Jeju high-speed rail during the 333rd extraordinary session held on October 20.
Wando County Council urged the government to include Wando as a stop on the Seoul-Jeju high-speed rail line. Photo by Wando County Council
In the resolution, the council stated, "Wando is a strategic hub in the southwestern maritime tourism region of South Jeolla and is geographically close to Jeju," adding, "It also holds international status as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve."
The council particularly emphasized that the waters off Wando are shallow and have a stable granite geological structure, making them favorable for the construction of a long-distance undersea tunnel. The council further explained, "The region has geographical advantages, such as the ability to utilize the archipelago, and existing road and port infrastructure also provide strengths for railway extension."
Currently, while some transportation networks in the southwestern region of South Jeolla, such as the Mokpo-Boseong rail line, have been improved, concerns remain that the area is still excluded from high-speed rail, limiting transportation accessibility and regional balance.
The council stated, "A high-speed rail line passing through Wando would serve as key infrastructure connecting the southwestern region of South Jeolla and Jeju into a single living and economic zone," adding, "It is expected to generate national benefits in various areas, including boosting the tourism industry and improving logistics efficiency."
The resolution requests the government to: ▲ include the Wando route in the Seoul-Jeju high-speed rail line as part of the 5th National Rail Network Construction Plan, and ▲ promote the project by securing relevant legislation and budget.
Meanwhile, the 333rd extraordinary session will be held for nine days until October 28, during which the resolution will be discussed along with 41 county government questions, two five-minute speeches, and 24 ordinance bills, among other major agenda items.
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