Cooperation Body of 13 Cities and Counties Visits Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
Emphasizes Creation of a Logistics and Tourism Economic Belt
Yecheon County (Governor Kim Hakdong) announced on January 19 that the “Central Region East-West Cross-Country Railway Cooperation Body,” which includes three provinces-Gyeongbuk, Chungbuk, and Chungnam-and 13 cities and counties, has submitted a joint proposal to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, urging the inclusion of a new project in the 5th National Rail Network Construction Plan.
On this day, the cooperation body met with the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to explain the necessity and ripple effects of the Central Region East-West Cross-Country Railway, and requested active government-level review and inclusion in the national plan.
With the finalization of the 5th National Rail Network Construction Plan approaching, this marks the beginning of a concerted regional response to address the gap in east-west rail service in the central region.
The Central Region East-West Cross-Country Railway is a large-scale rail network spanning 330 kilometers, connecting Seosan, Dangjin, Yesan, Asan, and Cheonan in Chungnam; Cheongju, Jeungpyeong, and Goesan in Chungbuk; and Mungyeong, Yecheon, Yeongju, Bonghwa, and Uljin in Gyeongbuk.
The cooperation body emphasized that this route is a strategic line connecting the east and west of the country within two hours, forming an economic belt that combines logistics and tourism infrastructure, thereby contributing to narrowing regional growth disparities and achieving balanced national development.
In particular, the cooperation body cited the following key reasons in its proposal: the establishment of a logistics and tourism economic belt by enabling travel between Seosan and Uljin within two hours; securing a mass transportation system for Cheongju International Airport; and the creation of approximately 60,000 jobs, which would help address the risk of population decline and promote balanced development.
The cooperation body for promoting the Central Region East-West Cross-Country Railway was launched in 2016 with the participation of 12 cities and counties, and expanded to 13 cities and counties in 2022 with the addition of Jeungpyeong County.
Over the years, the cooperation body has consolidated regional public opinion by submitting a petition with a total of 790,000 resident signatures to the government, consistently emphasizing the necessity of the project.
As a result of these efforts, the entire route was included as an “additional review project” in the 4th National Rail Network Construction Plan established in 2021, laying the foundation for its advancement. The cooperation body explained that the project has also been continuously reflected in regional pledges and national agendas of successive governments, thereby ensuring policy continuity.
Kim Hakdong, Governor of Yecheon County, stated, “The Central Region East-West Cross-Country Railway is not only a national infrastructure project that will dramatically improve the mobility of 6.5 million residents in the central region, but also a driver of balanced growth between regions. It must be included as a new project in the 5th National Rail Network Construction Plan.”
The cooperation body plans to continue inter-municipal cooperation until the national plan is finalized and will persistently carry out promotional activities targeting both the political sector and the central government.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
