Mayor Shin Kye-yong is actively pursuing the expansion of the metropolitan railway network to secure Gwacheon's future transportation competitiveness.
This initiative focuses on extending the Sillim Line to Gwacheon and the Wirye-Gwacheon Line to the Gwacheon Knowledge Information Town, which are key transportation pledges of his administration. He is urging relevant agencies to include these projects in the 5th National Railroad Network Construction Plan (2026-2035).
On November 13, Mayor Shin attended a public consultation event for the 5th National Railroad Network Construction Plan held at the Korea Construction Association in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, where he emphasized the need for expanding the railway network to meet future transportation demands in Gwacheon.
The event, organized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Transport Institute, aimed to gather diverse opinions from local governments, experts, and the public ahead of establishing the national railroad network plan.
The two projects that Mayor Shin is prioritizing are the extension of the Sillim Line to Gwacheon and the extension of the Wirye-Gwacheon Line to the Gwacheon Knowledge Information Town.
The Sillim Line extension will cover approximately 6.01 kilometers, connecting Gwanaksan Mountain, Seoul National University, and the Gwacheon Government Complex.
If realized, this project is expected to significantly improve accessibility from Gwacheon to major hubs in southwestern Seoul and help distribute traffic demand currently concentrated on Subway Line 4.
Meanwhile, the extension of the Wirye-Gwacheon Line is also a crucial project that will shape Gwacheon's future transportation landscape.
This plan involves extending the line approximately 2.98 kilometers from the Gwacheon Government Complex to the residential area of the Gwacheon Knowledge Information Town, with the installation of two new stations. The focus is on enhancing public transportation convenience for residents of the Knowledge Information Town, who currently have limited access to rail services.
Notably, this extension will strengthen the transportation infrastructure of the southern metropolitan knowledge industry belt, connecting the Magok District's medical and bio industries with the third new town.
Mayor Shin anticipates that as large-scale development projects, including the Gwacheon Knowledge Information Town and the Gwacheon-Juam District, progress, transportation demand will continue to rise.
He believes that merely expanding roads will not suffice, and securing a metropolitan railway network that matches the pace of urban growth is essential.
In light of this, Mayor Shin plans to actively promote the necessity of including these two railway projects in the national plan during this consultation event and continue discussions with relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Gyeonggi Province.
He has also encouraged citizen participation in policy-making.
Since November 9, he has been promoting participation in a public survey conducted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport through the city’s website, social media, and local community centers, aiming to ensure that citizen opinions are reflected in the national railroad network plan.
Local residents have expressed their expectations for the expansion of the railway network.
They have voiced concerns that as the Gwacheon Knowledge Information Town and various development projects continue to grow, traffic congestion during peak hours is worsening, making the expansion of the railway network urgent.
One resident stated, "If the Sillim Line connects to Gwacheon, it will broaden transportation options for citizens traveling to southwestern Seoul, and extending the Wirye-Gwacheon Line to the Knowledge Information Town will greatly help alleviate public transportation gaps."
Mayor Shin Kye-yong emphasized, "The extensions of the Sillim Line to Gwacheon and the Wirye-Gwacheon Line to the Gwacheon Knowledge Information Town are key tasks to enhance commuting convenience for citizens and proactively prepare for future transportation demands in Gwacheon."
He added, "I will actively work to ensure that these projects are included in the national railroad network construction plan to enhance citizen transportation convenience and Gwacheon's future competitiveness."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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