Gyeongsan Unites Parties, Local Governments, and Citizens as New Gyeongsan-Ulsan Expressway Gains Momentum

Gyeongbuk Mayors and County Governors Council Urges Implementation at Meeting in Gyeongsan
Democratic Party's Gyeongsan Committee Secures Positive Response from Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

The plan to construct a new expressway between Gyeongsan and Ulsan, a core project for transportation and logistics in the Yeongnam region and a presidential pledge by President Lee Jaemyung, is gaining momentum as both political parties and local governments unite in support.

On December 8, Gyeongsan City announced that the issue of building a new expressway between Gyeongsan and Ulsan was discussed as a key agenda item that Gyeongbuk Province and its 22 cities and counties must jointly address, during the 18th regular meeting of the Gyeongsangbuk-do Mayors and County Governors Council for the 8th term, held at the Imdang Historic Site Exhibition Hall in Gyeongsan City.

The 18th regular meeting of the Gyeongsangbuk-do Mayors and County Governors Council for the 8th term was held on the 8th at the Imdang Historic Site Exhibition Hall in Gyeongsan City. During the meeting, the council urged active solidarity and support from cities and counties within the province to ensure that the construction of a new expressway between Gyeongsan and Ulsan is definitely included in the 3rd expressway construction plan.

The meeting was attended by Kim Joosoo, head of the Gyeongbuk Mayors and County Governors Council and Uiseong County Governor, Cho Hyunil, Mayor of Gyeongsan, as well as the heads and deputy heads of 22 cities and counties. They urged active solidarity and support from all cities and counties within the province to ensure that the construction of the new Gyeongsan-Ulsan expressway is definitely included in the 3rd expressway construction plan.

Kim Joosoo, the council chair and Uiseong County Governor, stated, "Let us continue to pool our wisdom and experience to address regional issues and grow together next year." Cho Hyunil, Mayor of Gyeongsan, the host city, said, "I hope that the Gyeongbuk Mayors and County Governors Council will continue to unite and cooperate so that all 22 cities and counties in Gyeongbuk can become partners in mutual development."

Previously, efforts to include the Gyeongsan-Ulsan section in the expressway construction plan were bolstered by Kim Kihyun, head of the Gyeongsan City Regional Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea, who not only persuaded the party and the National Assembly but also met with Kim Yoonduk, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, to increase the likelihood of the project moving forward.

On November 28, Kim Kihyun emphasized the project's validity, stating, "Although this was a campaign pledge by presidential candidate Lee Jaemyung for Gyeongsan, the project’s implementation remains uncertain." He added, "The expressway, which Gyeongsan citizens strongly desire, would connect the Seoul metropolitan area, Daegu, and Ulsan, and would also facilitate the transport of industrial freight produced at Mipo and Onsan National Industrial Complexes, the largest in the country."

Minister Kim Yoonduk responded positively, stating that he would give special attention to the project as it is a presidential pledge by President Lee Jaemyung.

Additionally, the "100,000 Citizens Signature Campaign for the New Gyeongsan-Ulsan Expressway," launched by Gyeongsan City on the same day, achieved its goal within a week thanks to active citizen participation, providing a breakthrough in the effort to have the project included in the "3rd Expressway Construction Plan (2026-2030)."

At the campaign launch event, attended by over 100 people including Mayor Cho Hyunil of Gyeongsan, provincial and city council members, business and institutional representatives, and National Assembly member Cho Jiyeon (People Power Party), people from all generations-office workers, self-employed individuals, young people, and the elderly-participated widely. With this voluntary participation, the campaign exceeded its target of 100,000 signatures in a short period of time.