Yongin City Accelerates Urban Rail Projects: "Dongbaek-Sinbong Line" and "Yongin Line Extension"

Pushing Forward with Preliminary Feasibility Study Services
Mayor Lee Sangil: "Focusing Administrative Capabilities on Enhancing Project Viability"

Yongin City in Gyeonggi Province is accelerating efforts for the early realization of the "Dongbaek-Sinbong Line construction" and the "Yongin Light Rail Extension to Gwanggyo" projects.

On January 12, Yongin City announced that it has decided to allocate the budget for preliminary feasibility study services for both the "Dongbaek-Sinbong Line" and the "Yongin Line Extension," which were included in the 2nd Gyeonggi Province Urban Rail Network Development Plan at the end of last year, in the first supplementary budget scheduled for April.

Major railway project routes promoted by Yongin City. Provided by Yongin City

Lee Sangil, Mayor of Yongin, stated, "Since the Dongbaek-Sinbong Line project has finally been included in the 2nd Gyeonggi Province Urban Rail Network Development Plan, we have decided to conduct a preliminary feasibility study to accelerate the realization of the project," adding, "For the Yongin Line extension, we will also seek implementation plans through the study to meet citizens' expectations."

The Dongbaek-Sinbong Line is a 14.7-kilometer route connecting major transfer points such as Sinbong-dong in Suji District, Seongbok Station (Shinbundang Line), Guseong Station (GTX-A and Suin-Bundang Line), and Dongbaek Station (Light Rail). Once established, the route will link major residential areas in Sinbong and Seongbok-dong to Platform City, which is being developed as a hub for semiconductor materials, parts, and equipment (SMPE), as well as artificial intelligence (AI) and bio research and development (R&D) centers, hotels, and convention facilities.

The Yongin Line Extension project aims to connect the Yongin Light Rail Transit between Everland and Giheung Station to Gwanggyo Jungang Station via Heungdeok District, covering a distance of 6.8 kilometers. Through the preliminary feasibility study, the city plans to estimate transportation demand, including areas not covered in previous studies such as the redevelopment of the former Police University site in Eonnam District and Platform City.

During the study, the city will not only select the optimal route based on future transportation demand projections but will also review the technical feasibility of the routes.

The study will also examine changes in circumstances depending on whether projects such as the new 50.7-kilometer "Southern Gyeonggi Regional Railway," which would connect Seoul Sports Complex, Seongnam Pangyo, Yongin Sinbong and Seongbok, Suwon Gwanggyo, and Hwaseong Bongdam, and the "Gyeonggang Line Extension" between Gwangju in Gyeonggi Province and Idong and Namsa-eup in Cheoin District, Yongin, are included in the 5th National Rail Network Development Plan.

The city will also review the scenario in which the Central Region Regional Railway (JTX), connecting Jamsil in Seoul and Cheongju Airport, passes the private investment eligibility review. The proposed JTX private investment project includes sections of the Gyeonggang Line Extension and the Metropolitan Inland Line (Hwaseong Dongtan-Anseong-Jincheon-Cheongju Airport). The Korea Development Institute (KDI) has been conducting the private investment eligibility review for the JTX project since last year at the request of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

The city also plans to include the Dongcheon-Eonnam urban rail line, which was decided to be promoted at the end of last year, in this study.

Mayor Lee added, "We will focus our administrative capabilities on swiftly pursuing efforts to enhance the feasibility and economic viability of railway projects."