Daegu-Gyeongbuk Metropolitan Railway Passes Pre-Feasibility Review... One-Hour Living Sphere for TK Opens

70km Metropolitan Railway Network for Daegu and North Gyeongsang Confirmed
New Pre-Feasibility Study Subjects Selected, Including 'Byeollae Line Extension'
'6th National Road and National Route Plan' Secures Feasibility for 54 Projects

The construction of a 70km-wide railway network to support the new TK (Daegu and North Gyeongsang) airport and the building of the Pusan National University Hospital Global Hub Medical Center—an anchor healthcare facility in Busan, Ulsan, and South Gyeongsang—have both cleared the government's preliminary feasibility study (pre-feasibility study). Four major infrastructure projects, including the extension of the Byeollae Line (Line 8), which is considered a crucial solution to traffic congestion in the northeastern new towns of the Seoul metropolitan area, have also been selected as new subjects for pre-feasibility studies, marking the start of a full-fledged viability assessment process.

Major Progress for TK Railway Network and Regional Healthcare Hub... Youth Pension Support Also Shows Promise

On August 26, the Ministry of Planning and Budget, led by Vice Minister Cho Yongbeom, convened the 7th Fiscal Investment Evaluation Committee to deliberate and approve the selection of projects for pre-feasibility studies and the approval of those passing the review, as well as the collective results of the 6th National Road and National Route Pre-feasibility Assessment.

TK New Airport Railroad Route Map. Daegu City.

A total of five projects officially received final feasibility approval at this meeting. The most notable is the 'Daegu-Gyeongbuk Metropolitan Railway Construction Project' (total length 70.06 km, newly built 64.97 km), which connects Daegu and Uiseong in North Gyeongsang. This line will link Seodaegu Station with northern-central Gyeongsangbuk-do as a single living sphere and is expected to play a critical role as a regional economic artery upon the opening of the integrated Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport. It is also a core project for establishing a one-hour living sphere between Daegu and Gyeongbuk.

The 'Pusan National University Hospital Regional Comprehensive Global Hub Medical Center', designed to fill local essential healthcare gaps, also passed the pre-feasibility review. The plan includes redeveloping aging facilities to dramatically expand outpatient, inpatient, and emergency infrastructure and to establish a specialized disease-focused medical care system including an Integrated Cancer Care Center.

In the areas of public welfare, youth benefits, and advanced infrastructure, the following projects have become eligible for full-scale implementation: ▲ 'First Insurance Premium Subsidy for Youth,' which supports the first month’s national pension contributions (up to 40,000 won) to encourage early enrollment for those aged 18 to 26; ▲ 'Community Independence Support for the Disabled,' assisting disabled persons living in facilities or at home with community integration; and ▲ the 'National Satellite No. 3 and 4 Development Project,' which involves manufacturing and operating two high-resolution satellites.

Byeollae Line 3.4km Extension Launched... Pre-Feasibility Studies Begin for Jeonbuk Industrial Accident Hospital and Ulsan Munsu Bypass

The four newly designated subjects for pre-feasibility study are also mostly locally-anticipated projects. The 'Byeollae Line Extension Metropolitan Railway,' overseen by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, will directly connect Byeollae Station with Jinjeop Line’s Byeollae Byeolgaram Station over a 3.437 km section. This line is regarded as a key project that will dramatically improve Seoul city center access for residents of northeastern new towns such as Dasan, Byeollae, and Jinjeop in Namyangju.

In addition, the following projects were newly selected for pre-feasibility studies: ▲ 'Ulsan Munsu Bypass New Road' (2.61 km), aimed at relieving chronic congestion between Mugeo-dong and Sinjeong-dong in Nam-gu, Ulsan; ▲ 'Jeonbuk Regional Industrial Accident Hospital Construction' in Iksan, Jeonbuk, which will provide dedicated treatment and rehabilitation infrastructure; and ▲ 'Low-Carbon Agriculture Program,' designed to induce participation by farms in greenhouse gas reduction initiatives.

The results of the '6th National Road and National Route Collective Pre-feasibility Study,' which will serve as the blueprint for nationwide road network investment over the next five years, were also confirmed on this day. After an economic analysis conducted by the Korea Development Institute (KDI) and a comprehensive evaluation on policy and regional balance by 16 subcommittees, 54 out of a total 142 candidate routes cleared the final hurdle. These include the 'Anseong Gongdo Bypass' (333.9 billion won), which connects the metropolitan semiconductor cluster and surrounding residential areas, 'Pyeongtaek Oseong–Godeok' (307.9 billion won), 'Anseong Daedeok–Yongin Namsa' (296.8 billion won), and major regional trunk lines such as 'Wando Yaksan–Geumil' (455 billion won), 'Ulju Cheongnyang–Beomseo' (391.4 billion won), and 'Jangheung Daedeok Yeonji–Sunjii' (369.4 billion won), all of which have been found viable. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to officially include the approved 54 routes in the '6th National Road and National Route Construction Plan,' to be announced within the year, and to proceed with phased implementation.

Vice Minister Cho stated, "For pre-feasibility study subjects, begin prompt and thorough verification, and for approved projects, carefully manage project scale and timelines so that the public can truly experience the intended policy effects."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.