Democratic Party Gyeongju Committee Urges Enactment of 'Abandoned Railway Act'...Pays Successive Visits to Government and National Assembly

Former District Head Han Youngtae and Others Meet with Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Lawmakers from Both Ruling and Opposition Parties... Aiming for Passage in the National Assembly in March
"Gyeongju's Abandoned Railway Must Become a 100-Year Future Asset Based on a Legal Foundation, Not a Temporary Stopgap"

The Gyeongju District Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea (former district head Han Youngtae) has launched an all-out campaign, calling on all fronts for the enactment of the "Abandoned Railway Act" to ensure the efficient utilization of the disused railway site, a key pending issue in downtown Gyeongju.

The Gyeongju District Committee announced that on the 9th and 10th, over a two-day period, it visited the Government Complex Sejong and the National Assembly to strongly propose the enactment of the "Act on Promoting the Utilization of Abandoned Railway Lines and Idle Railway Sites" (hereinafter referred to as the Abandoned Railway Act) and held related meetings.

Provided by the Gyeongju City Regional Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea

On the 9th, at the Government Complex Sejong, the committee met with Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Yoon-duk and explained the necessity of enacting the Abandoned Railway Act.

At this meeting, former district head Han Youngtae said, "The abandoned railway site is not just idle space but a future growth engine for Gyeongju," and requested active cooperation from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

On the 10th at the National Assembly, the committee met in turn with Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee Chair Maeng Sungkyu and committee members Min Hongcheol, Yoon Jonggoon, and Han Junho, as well as Assemblywoman Jeon Hyunhee (Legislation and Judiciary Committee), Assemblyman Park Chan-dae (Political Affairs Committee), Assemblyman Kim Yongmin (Legislation and Judiciary Committee), and Assemblyman Heo Seongmoo (Special Committee for Supporting the APEC Summit and Special Committee on Budget and Accounts). They explained the necessity of enacting the Abandoned Railway Act and requested cooperation for swift deliberation and passage of the bill.

The Gyeongju District Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea has so far carried out a citizen signature campaign for the utilization of the disused railway site around the former Gyeongju Station, securing signatures from more than 1,270 people, and has continued multifaceted efforts such as co-hosting a National Assembly policy forum and submitting a proposal to the party headquarters.

These activities have served as an important foundation for the recent introduction, led by Assemblymen Song Ki-heon and Lim Mi-ae, of a bill to enact the Abandoned Railway Act and a related amendment to the Act on Special Cases Concerning National Property.

Former district head Han Youngtae stated, "The long-term neglect of the abandoned railway site has continued to damage the cityscape, create safety issues, and delay regional development," and added, "Systematic utilization based on a legal foundation, rather than temporary and fragmentary projects, is the way to prepare for Gyeongju's next 100 years."

He went on to say, "Gyeongju's abandoned railway is not a trace of the past but an asset for the future," emphasizing that "the key to pushing forward with legislation is citizen participation and solidarity."

He added, "With the goal of passing the bill during the regular National Assembly session in March, we will further strengthen consultations with the National Assembly and the government and continue to reflect the voices of citizens."

The Gyeongju District Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea plans to focus all its capabilities on this issue until the Abandoned Railway Act is enacted.