Gunpo Mayor Han Dae-hee emphasized on August 11 that the extension of the Shinbundang Line from Suwon to Uiwang, Gunpo, and Ansan is a key route that will connect the east-west axis of the southwest metropolitan area, enhance the urban value of the new cities in Uiwang, Gunpo, and Ansan, and provide significant transportation convenience for residents.
On this day, Mayor Han held a signing ceremony for a joint request for the 'Shinbundang Line Extension from Suwon to Uiwang, Gunpo, and Ansan' at the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly briefing room, alongside the mayors of Suwon, Uiwang, and Ansan.
This signing ceremony, organized by Gunpo City, was aimed at jointly advocating for the inclusion of the Shinbundang Line extension in the '5th National Railway Network Construction Plan' currently being established by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
Mayor Han, along with Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun, Uiwang Mayor Kim Sung-je, and Ansan Deputy Mayor Heo Nam-seok, signed and read the joint request, strongly urging the inclusion of the proposed line in the national plan.
Thirteen provincial council members also attended the signing ceremony, including Choi Sang-kyu, Han Un-ok, Lee O-su, and Park Ok-bun from Suwon, Jang Tae-hwan from Uiwang, Kim Mi-sook, Seong Gi-hwang, Seong Bok-im, and Kim Gwi-geun from Gunpo, and Jang Yoon-jung, Park Eun-kyung, Yoo Jae-soo, and Lee Cheol-hyung from Ansan, all voicing their support for the extension.
The joint request states that if the Shinbundang Line extension is pursued, it will connect the four cities in the southwest metropolitan area and significantly improve accessibility to Gangnam in Seoul when linked with the GTX-C line.
Additionally, it highlights the potential for creating youth jobs, fostering R&D, developing future logistics and mobility industries, and revitalizing advanced industries, emphasizing the need for national plan inclusion to enhance citizen transportation convenience and regional development.
The Shinbundang Line extension will span 14.54 kilometers, connecting the existing Shinbundang Line at Gwanggyo Station to the northern Suwon Jang-an district, Imok district, Uiwang Station, and the new cities in Uiwang, Gunpo, and Ansan, ultimately reaching Banwol Station.
This route was identified through a preliminary feasibility study conducted by Gunpo City in 2022, following earlier requests by Gunpo and Ansan to the Ministry of Land for inclusion in the 5th National Railway Network Construction Plan. Now, the four cities are jointly advocating for the project.
The proposed line is expected to serve as a crucial part of the east-west metropolitan railway network in the southwest region, enhancing the existing rail network. If implemented, it will complement the southwest railway network in a grid-like manner.
Notably, it is seen as a transportation infrastructure that will contribute to the government's 'Transportation Innovation Infrastructure Expansion Strategy' and the Gyeonggi governor's key pledge of realizing a '30-minute commute in the metropolitan area.'
There is growing anticipation in the community for the inclusion of the Shinbundang Line extension in the national plan.
Residents believe that the extension will greatly improve transportation accessibility in Gunpo and the surrounding southwest metropolitan area, strengthening connectivity between the new cities of Uiwang, Gunpo, and Ansan and existing urban centers.
Above all, there is optimism that improved access to the Gangnam area and expanded metropolitan transportation networks will alleviate commuting difficulties and enhance living conditions and urban competitiveness.
In the community, there are calls for national-level planning to reflect the importance of transportation networks in determining a city's future value. With the four local governments collaborating, there is a growing hope that the project will move into a practical implementation phase.
Mayor Han added, "Given the active willingness of private operators to push forward, this project can address local transportation issues while reducing the financial burden on the national government. We will do our utmost to ensure it is included in the national plan."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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