Osan Mayor Cho Yongho Fast-Tracks KRW 240 Billion in SOC Projects to Reshape the City

Osan pursuing five road network projects and four public facility projects, including a road crossing the Gyeongbu Line
Focusing on reconnecting areas divided by the railway, expanding transport links and improving everyday infrastructure
Mayor Cho: "Firm action over plans... Completing Osan's great leap forward without wavering"

Osan, Gyeonggi Province, is accelerating large-scale social overhead capital (SOC) projects to reconnect urban areas divided by the Gyeongbu Line and expand public facilities closely tied to residents' daily lives. The city aims to boost its competitiveness and improve residents' quality of life by focusing on two main areas: expanding the road network and improving everyday infrastructure.

Osan Mayor Cho Yongho. Photo provided by Osan City.

Osan City, led by Mayor Cho Yongho, said on November 5 that it is implementing nine key SOC projects in phases during its ninth popularly elected administration: five road network projects and four public construction projects.

The most notable project is the construction of a road crossing the Gyeongbu Line, with a total budget of KRW 133.9 billion. The road will connect Nu-eup-dong to National Route 1 in Won-dong, serving as a key transportation link between the eastern and western parts of the city, which are divided by the railway. Construction of the Osancheon Bridge and its abutments is underway, and the overall completion rate stands at 10%.

A further KRW 35.4 billion is being invested in a road connecting Jigot-dong and Geumam-dong. The completion rate for Section 1 is 75%, while the overall rate is 37.5%. The city expects the road to improve access between neighborhoods and help distribute traffic in the surrounding area.

The road expansion and widening project connecting Seorang-dong and Jigot-dong is being carried out with KRW 22.2 billion in private funding. A small-scale environmental impact assessment is underway, and construction is scheduled to begin in January 2027.

Construction of a road connecting Yangsan-dong to National Route 1 is also 45% complete. The project will connect Sema e-Pyeonhansesang to the Lotte리아 intersection on National Route 1, with the developers of Yangsan Districts 3 and 4 covering the costs. Completion is targeted for June 2027.

The reconstruction of Seobu-ro in Gajang-dong will receive KRW 15 billion in city funds and KRW 200 million in provincial funds, for a total of KRW 15.2 billion. The city is conducting detailed design work, plans to commission partial demolition work in November, and aims to begin the main construction in the first half of 2027.

The city is also expanding public facilities that serve residents' everyday needs.

A new water reservoir will be built in the Busan-dong area at a cost of KRW 30 billion. The city applied for approval of the water supply project in August 2026 and is completing administrative procedures with the aim of starting construction in June 2027. The reservoir is expected to help secure a reliable foundation for the supply of tap water.

The Sinjang 2-dong Administrative Welfare Center, being built in Sucheong-dong, has a project budget of KRW 20.26 billion. It is now more than 72% complete, with completion targeted for February 2027. The city expects the center to make administrative services more accessible to residents.

Map showing the progress of SOC projects under Osan City's 9th popularly elected administration. Courtesy of Osan City.

In Seorang-dong, the city is developing Sema Baseball Field at a cost of KRW 1.95 billion. Construction is scheduled to begin between March and May 2027, after work on the Sema Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is 78% complete, is finished.

Osan is also pursuing the construction of a complex cultural library in Naesammi-dong. The facility will be built entirely through public contributions, and the city is discussing detailed construction plans with the private project developer. The city is aiming to begin construction in the second quarter of 2027.

Osan City expects the completed projects to ease traffic congestion in the city center and improve travel between neighborhoods, as well as access to cultural, sports, and administrative services.

In particular, expanding major arterial roads, including the road crossing the Gyeongbu Line, is expected to help overcome divisions in the urban landscape and promote balanced development across the city.

However, progress rates and administrative procedures vary by project. Ensuring that construction stays on schedule, funding is secured, and project management proceeds smoothly remains a challenge.

Osan Mayor Cho Yongho said, "The roadmap for Osan's great leap forward is not just a slogan; it is becoming a reality, one step at a time on the ground. Guided by the principles of choosing direction over speed and putting plans into practice with certainty, we will complete every project without wavering."

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