The government is set to establish an ultra-regional transportation system that connects regions in line with the 'Five Regions and Three Special Zones' national balanced development strategy.
On September 17, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Metropolitan Transportation Commission announced the formation of an 'Ultra-Regional Transportation Policy Forum' to develop policies related to ultra-regional transportation in conjunction with the Five Regions and Three Special Zones initiative.
This forum aims to discuss the direction for building transportation networks between regions, moving beyond the existing metropolitan-centered transportation system to address the regionalization of living, economic, and industrial areas. Approximately 20 experts from academia and research institutions in related fields such as transportation, railways, roads, urban planning, regional development, and balanced development will participate.
The forum will analyze transportation demand and travel characteristics for each ultra-regional area and discuss the direction for constructing the ultra-regional transportation network, funding strategies, implementation systems, and improvements to related laws and regulations. It will particularly focus on developing transportation network plans that reflect the characteristics of each region and functional connections between them, in line with the Five Regions and Three Special Zones strategy.
The forum will hold its first meeting on September 29 and will conduct monthly policy workshops. Separate advisory meetings will also be held as needed for major issues. Based on the discussions, the commission plans to announce the final ultra-regional transportation strategy by the end of the year following a policy discussion in December.
The commission will also link the regional field tasks identified by the 'Regional Public Transportation Network Expert Committee' of the Local Era Committee with the 'Five Regions and Three Special Zones Regional Development Strategies' being developed by local governments. It will work with relevant ministries, local governments, the Local Era Committee, and the Office for Government Policy Coordination to refine the ultra-regional transportation policy direction at the government level.
Kim Yong-seok, chairman of the commission, stated, "As the major transformation of the national spatial structure under the Five Regions and Three Special Zones initiative begins, the ultra-regional transportation network that enhances connectivity will be a key infrastructure to boost regional economic and industrial competitiveness and drive national balanced development. We will create transportation policies that ensure practical mobility rights for regions and enhance the competitiveness of ultra-regional areas."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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