Hamyang, Sancheong, Hadong and Namhae Unite in Call to Expand Rail Network

Presented Joint Petition to Gyeongsangnam-do Governor Park Wan-soo, Seeking Inclusion in Fifth National Railway Network Development Plan

Proposed 203-Kilometer Daejeon-Namhae Railway; Aim to Improve Rail Access in Western Gyeongsangnam-do

Four Counties to Continue Joint Efforts, Including Visits to Government Agencies and the National Assembly

Four counties in western Gyeongsangnam-do—Hamyang, Sancheong, Hadong and Namhae—have joined forces to seek the inclusion of the Daejeon-Namhae railway project in the National Railway Network Development Plan.

According to Hamyang County in Gyeongsangnam-do, the four counties presented Gyeongsangnam-do Governor Park Wan-soo with a joint petition for the Daejeon-Namhae railway project at the “43rd Gyeongsangnam-do Residents’ Day” ceremony held at the Gyeongsangnam-do Provincial Office plaza on October 14.

[Photo provided by Hamyang County] Officials from four counties in western Gyeongsangnam-do—Hamyang, Sancheong, Hadong, and Namhae—pose for a commemorative photo after presenting Gyeongsangnam-do Governor Park Wan-soo with a joint petition calling for the Daejeon-Namhae railway project to be included in the National Railway Network Construction Plan at the 43rd Gyeongsangnam-do Residents' Day ceremony, held at the Gyeongsangnam-do Provincial Government Plaza on the 14th.

The joint petition was prepared to seek support and cooperation from Gyeongsangnam-do to improve transportation conditions in western Gyeongsangnam-do, where rail services are limited, and to have the project included in the “Fifth National Railway Network Development Plan (2026-2035),” which the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is preparing.

The proposed Daejeon-Namhae railway would start in Daejeon and run through Okcheon in North Chungcheong Province and Muju and Jangsu in North Jeolla Province before connecting Hamyang, Sancheong, Hadong and Namhae in Gyeongsangnam-do. The proposed railway network would span approximately 203 km.

In their joint petition, the four counties said that despite western Gyeongsangnam-do’s strategic location connecting the Yeongnam and Honam regions, the lack of rail infrastructure limits travel between regions and access to transportation.

They also expect the Daejeon-Namhae railway to improve access between the central region and western Gyeongsangnam-do, and to help expand tourism transport links between the Jirisan area and the southern coast.

They added that building the railway network could also improve local logistics, expand economic activity and strengthen transportation infrastructure in areas facing population decline.

Hamyang County Governor Jin Byeongyeong said, “Hamyang is a key inland transportation hub connected by the Gwangju-Daegu Expressway and the Hamyang-Ulsan Expressway, but its rail network remains inadequate. The Daejeon-Namhae railway would help establish tourism and logistics networks connecting the Jirisan area with the southern coast.”

He added, “We will work with Gyeongsangnam-do and neighboring local governments to jointly advocate for the Daejeon-Namhae railway project to be included in the Fifth National Railway Network Development Plan.”

Gyeongsangnam-do Governor Park Wan-soo, who received the joint petition, said, “I understand the purpose of the four counties’ joint appeal for regional development. We will work with central government agencies and relevant local governments to have the Daejeon-Namhae railway project included in the government’s Fifth National Railway Network Development Plan.”

The four counties, including Hamyang, plan to visit government agencies and the National Assembly to explain the need for the project and continue their joint efforts to have it included in the National Railway Network Development Plan.

However, the Daejeon-Namhae railway is currently at the stage of seeking inclusion in the National Railway Network Development Plan. Whether the project proceeds, as well as its route and cost, is expected to be determined based on the government’s future plans and related review procedures.

The joint appeal for the Daejeon-Namhae railway project has drawn attention because it brings together four counties in western Gyeongsangnam-do, where rail services are limited, to expand regional transportation infrastructure.

However, inclusion in the Fifth National Railway Network Development Plan is a necessary first step for the appeal to lead to actual railway construction. Further assessments of projected demand, economic viability and the availability of funding will also be needed to advance the project.

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