South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) has announced the grand opening of the Pyeongtaek-Buyeo section of the Seobunyeok Expressway, a significant milestone in the country's transportation infrastructure development.

The opening ceremony, held at Yedangho Service Area in Yesan County, Chungcheongnam-do, was attended by over 500 people, including MOLIT Minister Park Sang-woo and local government officials.

The Seobunyeok Expressway, spanning a total length of 137.4 kilometers, will eventually connect Pyeongtaek in Gyeonggi-do to Iksan in Jeollabuk-do. Once fully completed, it will be the longest privately-funded expressway in South Korea.

The recently opened Pyeongtaek-Buyeo section, the first phase of the project, is a four-lane highway stretching 94 kilometers. This segment alone required an investment of approximately 3.27 trillion won. The second phase, connecting Buyeo and Iksan, is scheduled to begin construction in 2029 and be completed by 2034.

A New Economic Lifeline

MOLIT anticipates that the Pyeongtaek-Buyeo section will serve as a vital transportation corridor, complementing the existing Seohyeon Expressway and fostering economic growth in the western region of South Korea.

With the new expressway, travel time between the southwestern part of the Seoul metropolitan area and the southwestern part of the Chungcheong region will be reduced to just 60 minutes, and the journey to the Saemangeum area will take only 90 minutes. Moreover, the distance between Poseung-eup in Pyeongtaek and Gyuam-myeon in Buyeo will be shortened by approximately 32 kilometers, and travel time will be reduced by 26 minutes.

Boosting Regional Economies

The improved accessibility to Pyeongtaek Port and key industrial complexes such as Asan National Industrial Complex, Hongseong National Industrial Complex (currently under planning), and the Saemangeum area is expected to significantly enhance the regional competitiveness of Gyeonggi, Chungcheongnam-do, and Jeollabuk-do provinces.

"We are committed to building a seamless transportation network that will reduce regional disparities and enable people to reach any part of the country within two hours," said MOLIT Minister Park Sang-woo. "The opening of the Seobunyeok Expressway is a major step forward in achieving this goal."