Shin Sang-jin, the mayor of Seongnam, reiterated his call on October 1 for the inclusion of the Southern Gyeonggi Metropolitan Railway in the fifth National Rail Network Construction Plan.
On this day, Mayor Shin held a joint resolution rally with citizen associations from Seongnam, Yongin, Suwon, and Hwaseong at Daejang Neighborhood Park in Bundang, emphasizing this commitment.
Attendees included Mayor Shin, Lee Sang-il, the mayor of Yongin, representatives from the four cities' citizen associations, and local residents.
Participants signed a joint proposal urging the inclusion of the Southern Gyeonggi Metropolitan Railway in the national rail network construction plan.
The Southern Gyeonggi Metropolitan Railway is a 50.7-kilometer project that will connect Jamsil Sports Complex in Seoul to Seongnam, Yongin, Suwon, and Hwaseong.
A preliminary feasibility study conducted jointly by the four cities confirmed its high economic viability.
In their joint proposal, the four cities stated, "Southern Gyeonggi is a leading hub for advanced industries in South Korea, but it lacks adequate transportation infrastructure to connect them," and requested the government to include the Southern Gyeonggi Metropolitan Railway in the fifth National Rail Network Construction Plan to alleviate traffic congestion for 4.2 million citizens and industry professionals.
Mayor Shin has consistently urged the government to advance the Southern Gyeonggi Metropolitan Railway project. In September 2023, the four cities jointly initiated a basic plan and preliminary feasibility study.
In May 2024, the four mayors signed a joint proposal for the inclusion of new projects in the national rail network construction plan.
Mayor Shin also held a press conference in November 2024 to advocate for the project's inclusion in the national rail network, emphasizing its necessity through visits to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and delivering letters to the minister.
In August of this year, he officially requested the central government to include the project during a national briefing for city and county mayors.
Mayor Shin is also preparing financially for the project, having established a rail construction fund of 300 billion won, with plans to increase it by an additional 100 billion won over the next four years, totaling 400 billion won.
Lee Sang-won, co-representative of the Seongnam Citizen Association, read the joint proposal, stating, "Every day, countless citizens commuting between Seoul and Southern Gyeonggi suffer from severe traffic congestion," and urged the Ministry of Land to respond to the urgent voices of 4.2 million citizens by including the Southern Gyeonggi Metropolitan Railway in the fifth National Rail Network Construction Plan.
Mayor Shin plans to continue collaborating with the mayors of Yongin, Suwon, and Hwaseong to advocate for the inclusion of the Southern Gyeonggi Metropolitan Railway in the national rail network.
The joint proposal, signed by the mayors and representatives of the citizen associations, is set to be submitted to the Ministry of Land this month.
Citizens also express optimism that the Southern Gyeonggi Metropolitan Railway will enhance the regional transportation network connecting Seoul and Southern Gyeonggi, while also calling for a specific project timeline and prompt implementation following its inclusion in the national rail network.
Meanwhile, Mayor Shin stated, "The Southern Gyeonggi Metropolitan Railway is a national project essential for reclaiming the time wasted daily on the Yeongseo and Gyeongbu expressways and for facilitating the lifeblood of South Korea's advanced industries." He added, "We will unite the wishes of 4.2 million citizens in Southern Gyeonggi to ensure its inclusion in the fifth National Rail Network Construction Plan, working together with Seongnam, Yongin, Suwon, and Hwaseong until the end."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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