Suwon City Makes All-Out Efforts to Reflect Plans in National Railway Network; Five Suwon MPs Provide Support

As Suwon City makes an all-out effort to have the Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railway and Bundang-Sinbundang Line extension project reflected in the 5th National Railway Network Construction Plan, five National Assembly members from the Suwon region have also directly met with the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to provide support.

According to Suwon City and local political circles on the 12th, National Assembly members Kim Seung-won (Suwon A District), Baek Hye-ryeon (Suwon B District), Kim Young-jin (Suwon C District), Kim Jun-hyuk (Suwon D District), and Yeom Tae-young (Suwon E District) of the Democratic Party met with Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Hong Ji-seon at the National Assembly Members' Hall on the 11th and proposed the inclusion of the Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railway in the national railway plan.

National Assembly Member Yeom Tae-young emphasized, "The Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railway is a line that benefits 4.2 million residents of Gyeonggi Province, and with high economic viability and concentrated population, it must absolutely be reflected in the National Railway Network Construction Plan."

The total project cost for the Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railway is estimated at approximately 5.275 trillion won, and the preliminary feasibility study jointly conducted by four cities yielded a benefit-cost ratio (B/C) of 1.2. It is a railway project with a total length of 50.7 km connecting from Seoul's Jamsil Sports Complex through Seongnam's Pangyo, Yongin's Suji, and Suwon's Gwanggyo to Hwaseong's Bongdam. Because of this, Suwon City has been jointly promoting the project with Seongnam, Yongin, and Hwaseong cities.

Following a mutual cooperation agreement signed by the province and four cities in February 2023, Suwon City took the lead in issuing a basic concept and preliminary feasibility study project in August of the same year.

In May 2024, the mayors of the four cities co-signed a joint proposal and submitted it to the province, and in November of the same year, Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun requested priority review of the project from then-Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Park Sang-woo.

In December of last year, Suwon City held a final report meeting on the joint project and discussed response measures for the establishment of the national plan.

In August, the mayor, together with Uiwang, Gunpo, and Ansan cities, co-signed a joint proposal urging the inclusion of the Bundang-Sinbundang Line Suwon-Ansan extension in the national plan. In September, the Suwon City Council adopted a resolution urging the reflection of the Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railway with unanimous support from all 37 members.

On the 13th of last month, a press conference held at the National Assembly urging the inclusion of the Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railway in the national plan was attended by Kim Hyun-soo, First Vice Mayor of Suwon City.

Efforts are also being made to encourage citizen participation.

On the 10th, Mayor Lee Jae-jun requested through his SNS that citizens actively participate in the public opinion survey being conducted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The city's website is also exposing a banner encouraging participation in the survey.

The mayor stated, "The Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railway is a key transportation network that reduces commute times for citizens and connects cutting-edge industrial hubs. Please lend your support so that Suwon's core railway project is reflected in the national plan."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will hold a public opinion gathering event on the 13th at the Seoul Specialized Construction Association Building for the establishment of the 5th National Railway Network Construction Plan (2026-2035).

At the provincial level, Governor Choo Mi-ae is scheduled to attend and explain the necessity of reflecting the 40 railway projects proposed by the province in the national plan.