Lee Byeonghwan, Mayor of Seongju County:
"Expecting Accelerated Regional Balanced Development
and Completion of the Yeonghonam Connection Axis"
The long-awaited Dongseo 3-axis (Muju~Seongju~Daegu section) highway construction project for the Yeonghonam region was selected as a candidate for the preliminary feasibility study at the 10th Fiscal Project Evaluation Committee held by the Ministry of Economy and Finance on October 31.
According to Seongju County on November 1, the Dongseo 3-axis (Saemangeum~Pohang) highway serves as a national arterial route directly connecting the western and eastern regions. When the Saemangeum~Jeonju section (L=55.1km) opens in November 2025, only the Muju~Seongju~Daegu section will remain unopened. This has significantly restricted logistics movement and industrial linkage between Yeonghonam to date.
Location map of the new Dongseo 3-axis (Muju~Seongju~Daegu section) highway project. Provided by Seongju County
The Seongju~Daegu section (L=18.8km) has been undergoing a preliminary feasibility study since January 2023, while the Muju~Seongju section has been under a pre-feasibility review since July 2024. However, as these two sections were being promoted as separate projects, they were found to lack sufficient economic feasibility.
The Korea Expressway Corporation and relevant metropolitan and local governments adjusted their approach to integrate the two sections as a single continuous project. As a result, the project received high evaluations for enhanced route connectivity, cost savings, and economic viability, leading to its final selection as a candidate for the preliminary feasibility study.
In particular, the Muju~Seongju section was previously assessed as economically unviable for independent development due to high project costs resulting from the terrain and dispersed traffic demand. However, by integrating it with the Seongju~Daegu section, the overall completeness of the transportation network and cost efficiency have been greatly improved.
After being officially confirmed as a candidate project for the preliminary feasibility study by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the subsequent steps will include conducting the preliminary feasibility study, establishing the basic plan, and proceeding with design and construction commencement.
The county expects that, if the project proceeds as planned, construction will begin in 2029 and the entire highway will open in 2036.
Lee Byeonghwan, Mayor of Seongju County, stated, "The selection of the Muju~Seongju~Daegu highway as a candidate for the preliminary feasibility study marks the beginning of completing the national arterial route connecting Yeonghonam, and serves as a historic turning point for Seongju to emerge as the transportation hub of Korea. As this is a project that both the county and residents have long hoped for, we will work closely with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, North Gyeongsang Province, and other relevant agencies to ensure the project passes the preliminary feasibility study and commences construction as soon as possible."
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