Six lawmakers from Chuncheon, Cheonan, and Asan hold a joint conference calling for government support for GTX extension.

Joint meeting of six lawmakers from Chuncheon, Cheonan, and Asan... Call for government support for extension projects

(Chuncheon = Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Sang-hak = On the 1st, National Assembly member Heo Young of the Democratic Party of Korea (Chuncheon, Cheorwon, Hwacheon, Yanggu Gap) reflected the Chuncheon extension of the Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit (GTX)-B line in the 5th national rail network construction plan and urged government support.

Rep. Heo and six other members of the National Assembly whose constituencies are Chuncheon and Cheonan and Asan in South Chungcheong Province held a joint press conference at the National Assembly Communication Center on this day and demanded government support for the GTX-B·C extension project.

They said, “Even under the current government, which has put balanced local development and the five poles and three special features as its core tasks, there is talk that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the financial authorities are negative about government support for the GTX extension project,” and added, “I am here with a sense of desperation on behalf of the citizens of Chuncheon, Cheonan, and Asan.”

Lawmakers explained that when the extension project was announced in 2024, the government requested local governments to cover the full cost of the project, and local governments had no choice but to accept this in order to open the line simultaneously with the main line.

He then pointed out that the construction and opening schedule for the main line is being delayed, and since the government has not kept its promise to open the line simultaneously, there is no basis to request local governments to pursue the project in a cost-effective manner.

In particular, he emphasized that expansion of the metropolitan transportation network is necessary for the success of major development projects such as Chuncheon Corporate Innovation Park.

They said, "In order for companies to come in and revive the local economy, a metropolitan transportation system such as GTX must be supported," and "the extension of GTX will be a priming water for realizing balanced regional development."

They also requested re-discussion and financial support at the government level, citing the fact that the GTX extension route was included in the last presidential election pledge.

The lawmakers said, "We will visit wherever necessary to persuade and demand that the railway network plan be reflected," and added, "We will do our best together with the citizens of Chuncheon, Cheonan, and Asan until the plan is announced."