330km East-West 'Railway Big Link'... Bonghwa County Urges Inclusion in National Plan

Joint Proposal by 13 Cities and Counties from Three Provinces to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
"Seosan-Uljin Two-Hour Living Zone"

Bonghwa County is accelerating the establishment of an ultra-wide-area railway network by urging the inclusion of the Central Region East-West Transversal Railroad as a new project in the 5th National Railroad Network Construction Plan. As this project aims to connect the Baekdudaegan area, which has long been considered a transportation-isolated region, via a railway corridor, it is once again emerging as a key task for balanced national development.

Bonghwa County, Central Region East-West Transversal Railroad National Plan

On January 19, Bonghwa County announced that a coalition of 13 cities and counties from Gyeongbuk, Chungbuk, and Chungnam provinces had met with the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and submitted a joint statement requesting the inclusion of the Central Region East-West Transversal Railroad as a new project in the 5th National Railroad Network Construction Plan.

The Central Region East-West Transversal Railroad is an ultra-wide-area railway network spanning a total length of 330 kilometers, connecting Gyeongbuk (Mungyeong, Yecheon, Yeongju, Bonghwa, Uljin), Chungbuk (Cheongju, Jeungpyeong, Goesan), and Chungnam (Seosan, Dangjin, Yesan, Asan, Cheonan). The plan is to connect Seosan to Uljin across the country in about two hours, thereby establishing a logistics and tourism economic belt.

The coalition emphasized in the statement that this project is not only a presidential regional pledge but also a national-level balanced development task reflected in the 21st National Administration Five-Year Plan.

The main points of the proposal include: ▲ Establishing a logistics and tourism economic belt by enabling travel between Seosan and Uljin in about two hours ▲ Securing a mass transportation system for Cheongju International Airport ▲ Responding to the risk of population decline and realizing balanced national development by creating approximately 60,000 jobs.

The project was officially launched in 2016 when 12 cities and counties formed a coalition, and in 2022, Jeungpyeong County joined, expanding the coalition to 13 cities and counties. The coalition has conveyed strong local support to the government by submitting resident petitions with 620,000 signatures in May 2016 and 170,000 signatures in May 2021.

As a result, in January 2019, the 3rd National Railroad Network Construction Plan included the Seokmun Industrial Complex to Hapdeok section as a new project, and some sections such as Daesan Port to Seokmun Industrial Complex were included as additional review projects. In June 2021, the 4th National Railroad Network Construction Plan included the entire route as an additional review project.

Furthermore, the Central Region East-West Transversal Railroad has continuously maintained its status as a policy priority, being reflected in the following: ▲ July 2017, the 19th Presidential Regional Pledge ▲ April 2022, the 20th Presidential City and Provincial Pledge ▲ August 2025, the 21st President Lee Jaemyung’s National Administration Five-Year Plan.

The coalition of 13 cities and counties plans to use the submission of this joint statement as an opportunity to strengthen their cooperation system until the 5th National Railroad Network Construction Plan is finalized, and to continue lobbying political circles and the central government to secure the project.

Bonghwa County Mayor Park Hyunkook stated, "The Central Region East-West Transversal Railroad must be included in the national railroad network," adding, "Resolving transportation isolation will not only revitalize tourism in the Baekdudaegan area but also serve as a decisive turning point for regional economic growth." He emphasized, "We will continue to work closely with the 13 cities and counties to ensure the project proceeds smoothly without setbacks."

Whether or not the project is included in the national railroad network will be a decisive factor that goes beyond mere transportation convenience and has the potential to transform local industries and living conditions. If the 330-kilometer ultra-wide-area railway network becomes a reality, the central region is expected to establish itself as a 'balanced development axis,' simultaneously advancing strategies for logistics, tourism, and population challenges.