Leap Toward a "Hub City" with GTX-B and East-West Railway Integration... 470.9 Billion Won Project
Full-Scale Development by 2031... Laying the Foundation for Chuncheon as a Key Hinterland City for the Capital Region
First Public Station Area Development in Korea Under the Station Area Act, Covering 426,895 Square Meters
Revitalizing Downtown and Boosting Tourism by Linking Camp Page and Uiamho Lake
The Chuncheon Station Area Development Project, which aims to create a multi-functional hub integrating transportation, residential, and commercial facilities in the Chuncheon Station area of Gangwon Province, has received final approval from the Ministry of Economy and Finance's preliminary feasibility study.
Yook Donghan, mayor of Chuncheon, held a briefing at the city hall briefing room on the 4th, announcing the preliminary feasibility study approval for the Chuncheon Station area development project and future plans. Photo by Chuncheon City
On December 4, Yook Donghan, mayor of Chuncheon, held a briefing at the city hall briefing room to announce the project's approval in the preliminary feasibility study and to outline future plans.
This approval comes 1 year and 8 months after the study began in March of last year. The project was officially recognized as feasible after meeting all requirements, including an economic analysis (B/C 0.75, PI 1.15) and a comprehensive evaluation (AHP 0.507).
Following the approval, the city will promptly proceed with subsequent steps, including designating the area as a restricted development zone, establishing a public property management plan, and signing an implementation agreement with the project operator. Afterward, the city plans to designate the station area development zone, conduct various impact assessments, negotiate land compensation, and obtain approval for the implementation plan, aiming to complete development by 2031. Chuncheon will also maintain close cooperation with Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province to ensure that the remaining administrative procedures proceed swiftly.
The Chuncheon Station Area Development Project is the first station area development project in the country to be implemented under the "Act on Development and Use of Station Areas." The National Railroad Authority and Chuncheon Urban Corporation (each holding 49.5%), along with Gangwon Development Corporation (1%), will invest a total of 470.9 billion won to develop 426,895 square meters around Chuncheon Station, establishing residential, commercial, business, and accommodation facilities, as well as a multi-modal transfer center.
Chuncheon City expects that this approval is more than just the completion of a procedural step; it will serve as a turning point for the revitalization of the old downtown. The areas of Geunhwa-dong and Soyang-dong, which have struggled to find a new purpose since the return of Camp Page in 2005, will gain new vitality through the Chuncheon Station Area Development Project and the creation of an Urban Regeneration Innovation District.
In addition, the "Uiamho Lake Landmark Project" will focus on developing waterfront attractions such as amusement facilities and hotels around Uiamho Lake, and will be linked with the local lake garden, circular overpass, and neighborhood business development center to create a structure in which the lake, downtown, and commercial districts thrive together. If the relocation of the Chuncheon Public Sewage Treatment Plant is also completed in the future, the area is expected to be transformed into an urban hub integrating industry, economy, and tourism.
In particular, when the upcoming Chuncheon-Sokcho East-West High-Speed Railway (scheduled for 2027), the GTX-B extension line (scheduled for 2030), and the Second Gyeongchun National Road (scheduled for 2029) are connected, Chuncheon will be within a 50-minute living radius of the Seoul metropolitan area, laying the foundation for its emergence as a key hinterland city for the capital region.
This achievement in passing the preliminary feasibility study was made possible by the meticulous response and efforts of Chuncheon City and related organizations.
Yook Donghan, mayor of Chuncheon, held a briefing at the city hall briefing room on the 4th, announcing the preliminary feasibility study approval for the Chuncheon Station area development project and future plans. Provided by Chuncheon City
In particular, Mayor Yook Donghan personally visited the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the National Assembly to explain the necessity of the project and demonstrate a strong commitment to its implementation. Related public officials also continuously worked to develop alternatives and improve the project's structure, which led to this successful outcome.
Mayor Yook Donghan stated, "Through the railroad industry, we will make Chuncheon a center where culture and economy meet, bringing happiness to citizens and opportunities to future generations. We will elevate Chuncheon into a true hub city connecting the Seoul metropolitan area and the East Coast."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
