Mayor Choi Hyundeok Meets Land Minister, Urges Four GTX Routes and Expanded Regional Transport Network

Namyangju Mayor Meets with Rep. Choi Minhee and Minister Hong Jiseon

Discusses Key Issues Including Railways, Roads and New Town Infrastructure

Calls for GTX-D, E, F and G to Be Included in the National Railway Network Construction Plan

Proposes Widening Suseok Bridge to Six Lanes and Putting Gangbyeonbuk-ro Underground

Mayor Choi: "Transportation Networks Must Be Built Before Residents Move into Third-Phase New Towns"

Choi Hyundeok, mayor of Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, has asked the government for active support in including four routes of the Metropolitan Area Great Train Express (GTX) in the National Railway Network Construction Plan and expanding the regional road network. The aim is to prevent traffic congestion in advance as large-scale housing supply projects, including Wangsuk New Town, proceed, and fundamentally improve the transportation system in the northeastern part of the Seoul metropolitan area.

Namyangju Mayor Choi Hyundeok (left) hands a policy proposal to Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Hong Jiseon. Photo courtesy of Namyangju City.

Namyangju City said on October 14 that Mayor Choi and National Assembly member Choi Minhee of the Democratic Party of Korea, who represents Namyangju Gap, met with Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Hong Jiseon at the Land Development Exhibition Hall in Jung-gu, Seoul, to discuss key local issues involving railways, roads and urban development.

The meeting was arranged to convey to the government the need to expand transportation and living infrastructure in Namyangju, where the population is expected to grow rapidly due to the development of third-phase new towns and new public housing sites.

Mayor Choi identified railway network expansion as the top priority. He proposed including four routes—GTX-D, E, F and G—in the Fifth National Railway Network Construction Plan to improve access to regional transportation in the northeastern part of the Seoul metropolitan area.

He also asked that the extension of the Songpa-Hanam Line to Namyangju, the extension of Subway Line 6 to Namyangju, and the extension of Line 8 (the Byeollae Line) to Uijeongbu be included in the Fifth Metropolitan Area Transportation Implementation Plan.

In particular, he stressed the need for direct train service between the Gyeongchun Line and the Suin-Bundang Line. The aim is to ease the inconvenience for residents who currently have to transfer at Cheongnyangni Station and connect northeastern parts of the Seoul metropolitan area, including Namyangju, with southern Gyeonggi Province and Incheon through a single railway network.

Mayor Choi also explained that railway network expansion would be a key foundation for strengthening Namyangju's industrial competitiveness and urban self-sufficiency, going beyond simply improving transportation convenience.

The early implementation of metropolitan transportation measures for third-phase new towns was also a key topic.

Mayor Choi stressed that major transportation facilities, including railways and roads, must open in time for residents to move into large-scale public housing developments, including Wangsuk District.

To this end, he proposed drawing up comprehensive metropolitan transportation plans that link those for individual development projects with the development of surrounding new towns and public housing sites, and expediting project procedures.

The aim is to avoid a repeat of traffic congestion in new towns, where large apartment complexes are occupied before transportation facilities are completed.

Mayor Choi stressed that the government must take an active role in ensuring that the principle of "transportation first, move-ins later" is reflected in actual project schedules rather than remaining a slogan.

Regarding road network expansion, he requested the widening of Suseok Bridge to six lanes, a direct connection to Seondong IC, the construction of interchanges at Geumgok Industrial Complex and Wolmun-ri on the Jungbu Connection Expressway, and the inclusion of the Gangbyeonbuk-ro undergrounding project in metropolitan transportation improvement measures.

The city expects these projects to improve access to Seoul and help disperse traffic generated by new town development.

Namyangju Mayor Choi Hyun-deok is briefing Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Hong Ji-seon on key issues facing the city, alongside National Assembly member Choi Min-hee of the Democratic Party of Korea, who represents Namyangju Gap. Provided by Namyangju City.

The city expects these projects to improve access to Seoul and help disperse traffic generated by new town development.

In particular, it expects new interchanges connecting industrial complexes with major arterial roads to improve logistics efficiency and transportation conditions for local businesses.

Mayor Choi also proposed institutional improvements to support housing supply and urban development.

He explained that the relocation and integration of the Jingeon Public Sewage Treatment Facility would provide the infrastructure needed for housing supply in Wangsuk District while improving the living environment in surrounding areas.

He also asked the government to help resolve institutional difficulties arising in urban development, including by revising regulations on small settlement clusters in development-restricted zones and improving the district unit planning system.

Namyangju City plans to continue consultations with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the National Assembly following the meeting, and to focus its administrative efforts on securing the inclusion of major railway and road projects in national plans and expanding infrastructure in new towns.

Mayor Choi Hyundeok said, "With the development of third-phase new towns and the supply of new public housing, Namyangju is transforming into a major growth axis in the northeastern part of the Seoul metropolitan area. It is more important than anything to build regional transportation infrastructure, including railways and roads, commensurate with the city's growth."

He added, "The issues discussed today are important not only for Namyangju but also for improving transportation and residential environments and achieving balanced development in the northeastern part of the Seoul metropolitan area. We will work closely with the government and the National Assembly and do our utmost to ensure that major projects are included in national and regional transportation plans and proceed without a hitch."

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