Mayor Bang Sehwan: "Reflecting Citizens' Long-Held Aspirations... Fundamental Improvements to the Transportation System"
Gwangju City in Gyeonggi Province Receives Final Approval for 2nd Urban Rail Network Plan
Full-Scale Launch of 945.19 Billion Won Light Rail Project: 9.5 km, Six New Stations
Chronic Congestion Relief and Dramatic Improvements in Accessibility to Pangyo and Seongnam Expected
On December 12, Gwangju City in Gyeonggi Province announced its welcome for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s final approval and official announcement of the “2nd Gyeonggi Province Urban Rail Network Construction Plan,” which will set the long-awaited “Pangyo-Opo Urban Rail Project” on a full-fledged track toward implementation.
The approved Pangyo-Opo Urban Rail Project is a new light rail construction project with a total length of approximately 9.5 kilometers and six planned stations. Of these, two new stations will be established within Gwangju City’s jurisdiction-one each in Sinhyeon-dong and Neungpyeong-dong. The total project cost is estimated at approximately 945.19 billion won.
Until now, Gwangju City has continuously sought rail and road transportation solutions to address the chronic traffic congestion experienced by residents commuting between Sinhyeon, Neungpyeong, Seongnam, and Pangyo, based on the “National Route 57 (Gwangju-Seongnam) Traffic Improvement Agreement” signed with Seongnam City.
In particular, using the results of the joint study with Seongnam, the city officially proposed the Pangyo-Opo Urban Rail Project to Gyeonggi Province. In March 2025, city officials directly visited the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Transport Institute to repeatedly emphasize the necessity and urgency of key rail issues, including the extension of the Gyeonggang Line, the Pangyo-Opo light rail, and the inclusion of the GTX-D line.
These efforts led to the final approval and official announcement after review by specialized research institutes under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and deliberation by the National Transportation Committee.
The city plans to conduct an updated preliminary feasibility study in 2026 to supplement the project’s economic and policy viability based on recent population and transportation demand changes. By the end of 2026, the city intends to apply for a preliminary feasibility study by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Throughout this process, Gwangju City will closely cooperate with Gyeonggi Province, Seongnam City, and central government agencies to advance the related procedures step by step.
With this approval, expectations among Gwangju citizens have risen significantly. The Opo living area (including Sinhyeon and Neungpyeong) has long suffered from persistent traffic congestion due to the concentration of commuters traveling to Pangyo and Seongnam. With the opening of the urban rail, however, dramatic improvements are anticipated in overall living conditions, including enhanced accessibility to key hubs such as Pangyo, Seongnam, and major locations in Seoul; improved pedestrian environments centered around rail stations; an advanced public transportation transfer system; and revitalization of local commercial districts.
Mayor Bang Sehwan stated, “This final approval of the urban rail network construction plan marks a major turning point in realizing Gwangju citizens’ long-held aspiration for an urban rail system and serves as a key foundation aligned with Gwangju City’s 2030 urban transportation plan. With the ongoing population growth and expanding commuter demand for Pangyo and Seongnam, the project’s economic viability is expected to improve further. We will swiftly and thoroughly carry out follow-up studies and administrative procedures to demonstrate this, fundamentally enhancing citizens’ convenience and the local transportation system.”
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