National Assembly Forum to Be Held
Full-Scale Push for Inclusion in the 5th National Railroad Network Plan
Increased Competitiveness for Seafood and Logistics as the Land Gateway
Haenam County and Wando County in South Jeolla Province have launched an all-out effort to attract the Seoul-Jeju high-speed railway, considered the "last resort" to overcome the crisis of regional extinction.
The two local governments will hold the "Seoul~(via Haenam and Wando) Jeju High-Speed Railway Attraction National Assembly Forum" on the 17th at the National Assembly Library Auditorium, kicking off full-scale activities to be reflected in the 5th National Railroad Network Construction Plan.
The forum is co-hosted by Assemblyman Park Jie-won, as well as Haenam natives Min Hongcheol, Min Byeongdeok, and Min Hyeongbae, and Wando natives Heo Jongsik and Son Myungsoo. Haenam County and Wando County will serve as the organizers. Around 40 people from each region are expected to attend the forum to share the necessity of attracting the high-speed railway.
Haenam County and Wando County will hold the "Seoul~(via Haenam and Wando) Jeju High-Speed Railroad Attraction National Assembly Forum" on the 17th at the National Assembly Library Auditorium, launching full-scale activities to be reflected in the 5th National Railroad Network Construction Plan. Provided by Haenam County
The Seoul-Jeju high-speed railway is a massive national project with a total investment of 27 trillion won. Due to abnormal weather conditions at Jeju International Airport, there are as many as 1,500 flight cancellations annually, which has led to a continued call for an alternative transportation network. However, the huge project cost and cautious attitudes in the Jeju region have made it difficult to include the project in the national plan.
Recently, as the southwestern region of South Jeolla has gained attention as a new hub for AI and energy industries, the atmosphere has been changing. With corporate investment expected to increase, the need for high-speed rail construction is growing in terms of attracting population, improving settlement conditions, and promoting balanced national development.
If the high-speed railway is attracted, the ripple effects on Haenam and Wando are expected to be significant. With travel time to Seoul, which currently takes more than five hours, being drastically reduced, accessibility to the capital region will greatly improve, creating a foundation for attracting younger residents and corporate investment.
During the construction process, economic effects worth several hundred billion won and the creation of thousands of jobs are expected. After opening, an increase in tourists is also anticipated to revitalize local commercial districts.
In particular, if Haenam and Wando serve as the "land gateway" to Jeju, the expansion of logistics and distribution industries will become possible, contributing to increased youth employment and the revitalization of the region. In the long term, some analysts suggest this could be a turning point in overcoming the crisis of regional extinction.
Expectations among local residents are also rising. One self-employed person in Haenam said, "There are more and more places closing down as young people leave. If the high-speed railway comes, I think my children and grandchildren could live here again."
A resident engaged in the fisheries industry in Wando also said, "The burden of logistics costs is reducing the competitiveness of our seafood. If a land-based transportation network is established, the market for Wando seafood will expand significantly."
Since last year, Haenam County and Wando County have repeatedly visited the National Assembly, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Korea Transport Institute to emphasize the necessity of the project. In February, together with Yeongam County, they submitted a joint proposal to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport requesting the inclusion of a route passing through Haenam-eup in the national railroad network plan.
An official from Haenam County stated, "We will do our utmost to ensure that the projects we have prepared are reflected in the national railroad network plan, creating a turning point for balanced regional development and population inflow. This is the last opportunity for the region to make a leap forward."
A Wando County official also commented, "Attracting the high-speed railway is a matter of survival for the region. With the support of Assemblyman Park Jie-won and Assemblyman Son Myungsoo, we are co-hosting the forum. We will continue to visit central government ministries and make our case until the official announcement."
The attraction of the high-speed railway is also highly connected with regional strategic projects. Haenam County is working to attract a national AI computing center, while Wando County is pursuing major projects in tourism, healing, and ecology, such as a marine healing center, a national subtropical arboretum, and a national marine fisheries museum.
Local stakeholders unanimously stated, "When the high-speed railway opens, Haenam's advanced industrial cluster and Wando's marine and healing tourism belt will create synergy, completing the southwestern growth axis. Attracting the high-speed railway is not just about expanding the transportation network-it is a matter of the region's very existence. All county residents must unite their voices and efforts."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
