Hwacheon County in Gangwon Province is set to approach central government ministries to address key local issues, including the construction of Hwacheon Station on the East-West High-Speed Railway and improvements to National Route 56.
According to Hwacheon County, County Head Kim Se-hoon will visit the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Korea Forest Service, among others, from August 10 to 11, accompanied by the head of the Planning and Inspection Office and relevant department heads.
During this visit, the county plans to explain the necessity of 12 projects to seven ministries and request the inclusion of these initiatives in the government budget and related plans.
Key issues include the construction of Hwacheon Station on the East-West High-Speed Railway, the construction of the Hwacheon Sain to Chuncheon Sabuk road, the installation of a bridge between Georye and Woncheon-ri, the establishment of a support center for returning veterans, and the reconstruction of the Andong Bridge.
The county will also discuss extending support for the Sancheoneo Festival as a global event, as well as projects related to forest resources, such as attracting the proposed Hwacheon Mohyeon National Natural Recreation Forest, the installation of a joint military-civilian water supply system, and the use of idle military land.
Among these, the county will emphasize to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport the need for improvements, such as bridge construction, to minimize disruptions and inconveniences for residents caused by the railway construction around Hwacheon Station.
Hwacheon County has been in discussions with the Korea National Railway Corporation regarding the issues of bridge construction and additional cost burdens. On June 30, the county conveyed its position to the corporation.
According to the county, County Head Kim raised concerns about the proposal for Hwacheon County to bear all additional costs associated with bridge construction. He argued that it is necessary to reconsider whether it is appropriate for local governments to shoulder all costs related to inconveniences caused by national railway projects and future limitations on regional development.
During the visit to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the county will demand solutions to ensure that residents can access agricultural land and that the area is not severed during future station area development.
For the section of National Route 56 from Sain to Chuncheon Sabuk, the county will advocate for road improvements to create a safer traffic environment by addressing curves and hazardous areas.
At the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the county will explain the need for the installation of a bridge between Georye and Woncheon-ri, the establishment of a support center for returning veterans, and request the inclusion of development plans for border areas.
At the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the county will request an extension of support for the Sancheoneo Festival, which is set to conclude this year, and at the Korea Forest Service, it will propose projects utilizing forest resources, including attracting the national recreation forest.
With the Ministry of National Defense, the county will discuss the joint military-civilian water supply installation project and the use of idle military land. The county is also considering ways to utilize idle military facilities and land resulting from troop relocations and disbandments to boost local income and stimulate the regional economy.
Among the proposed projects, some require ongoing discussions to ensure alignment with government policies and medium- to long-term development plans.
Hwacheon County aims to explain the conditions of border areas and the necessity of each project to central government ministries while continuing discussions to secure government budget allocations, improve systems, and address residents' requests.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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