Haenam Poised for 3 Trillion Won Projects: "Paving the Way for Survival"

Haenam to Solaseado in Just 12 Minutes: A New Era Approaches
High-Speed Rail, Expressway, and National Route Projects Underway

As Haenam in South Jeolla Province rapidly emerges as the so-called "AI and Energy Capital," efforts to expand transportation infrastructure to support the region's transformation have entered full swing.

With the establishment of the National AI Computing Center in the Solaseado Corporate City virtually confirmed, and the designation of the OpenAI-SK AI Data Center and the RE100 National Industrial Complex becoming more tangible, Haenam's future strategy is picking up momentum.

According to Haenam County on December 11, the county has identified the construction of a dedicated road directly connecting Haenam-eup and Solaseado Corporate City as a key task and has begun public discussions on the matter. This road will stretch 18.6 kilometers, linking Haenam-eup with Hwangjo Intersection in Masan-myeon and Sani-myeon, and once open, it will reduce travel time to around 12 minutes.

Haenam County Office Building View

The total project cost is estimated at 750 billion won. Upon completion, Solaseado will be even closer than Muan and Naman, significantly improving the living conditions for employees at the AI Center.

In the long term, the county is also working to include a high-speed rail (KTX) line as part of its plan to build a "Southwest Artery." Efforts are ongoing to persuade the government and the National Assembly to include Haenam and Wando as stops on the Seoul-Jeju high-speed rail line.

A public forum will be held at the National Assembly on December 17 to help sway public opinion. The total project cost is 27 trillion won. In addition, the county has proposed linking the Honam High-Speed Rail with the Mokpo-Boseong line, which opened in September. Once the electrification of the new Boseong-Suncheon section is completed in 2030, direct access to Seoul and Gwangju from Haenam without transfers will become possible.

The Gwangju-Haenam Expressway project is also progressing smoothly. It passed the preliminary feasibility study last year and is currently undergoing a feasibility study by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, with construction scheduled to begin in 2028 and completion targeted for 2034. Once open, travel time between Gwangju and Haenam will be reduced to about 40 minutes.

Haenam IC (Okcheon-myeon) and Namhaenam IC (on the border of Hyunsan and Bukpyeong) are under consideration, while Haenam County is also negotiating with the government for the additional installation of "Daeheungsa IC" at the Samgeori intersection in Bukil-myeon and an extension toward Ttangkkeut. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is reportedly conducting an internal review of a plan for an ultra-high-speed expressway connecting Gwangju and Solaseado in about 20 minutes.

National Route 77, which connects Haenam and Shinan, is also showing tangible progress. The key section, a 2.7-kilometer subsea tunnel, was recently bored through, with 245.3 billion won invested and completion targeted for August 2027. This is expected to greatly improve access to the Oceano Tourist Complex and Pine Beach Golf Course.

Provincial road expansion and paving projects are also underway. The four-lane expansion of the Haenam-eup to Daeheungsa section is scheduled for completion in May 2028, while early construction of the Masan to Sani section has been requested from South Jeolla Province to coincide with the completion of the National AI Computing Center in the first half of 2028. In response to residents' demands, a design change to include farm machinery roads along the entire route is being pursued, and a resident briefing session could be held as early as the end of the year.

Haenam is set to host mega-projects worth about 3 trillion won, including the National AI Computing Center and the LS Group's offshore wind power support port. The county sees improvements in living conditions and infrastructure expansion as key to regional advancement, as the projects are expected to create around 30,000 jobs and generate significant economic ripple effects.

County Governor Myung Hyun-kwan stated, "Haenam now stands at a turning point in writing a new chapter of history. We will proactively pursue large-scale SOC projects to achieve both regional development and benefits for county residents. We will work closely with central government ministries to focus all efforts on expanding the transportation network."