Daejeon City actively advocated for the inclusion of key regional railway projects—most notably the extension of the Chungcheong Metropolitan Express Railway (CTX) to Seodaejeon Station—during the public hearing for the 5th National Railway Network Plan, held on November 13 at the Construction Financial Cooperative building in Seoul.

Hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) and organized by the Korea Transport Institute (KOTI), the seminar was held under the theme "A Great Railway Transformation Connecting Tomorrow’s New South Korea." The event brought together approximately 580 participants, including officials from MOLIT, 15 metropolitan local governments, railway experts, and citizens.

The program featured presentations on the vision and strategic directions of the 5th National Railway Network Plan, followed by regional presentations, expert discussions, and public Q&A sessions to shape the future of the nation’s railway network.

Through a promotional video, Daejeon highlighted its strategic role as the hub of South Korea's railway system and proposed four core railway initiatives for national adoption: the CTX Seodaejeon Station extension, the East-West High-Speed Line, the Daejeon-Mungyeong Line, and the Daejeon-Namwon Line.

In particular, the extension of the CTX to Seodaejeon Station focuses on connecting the Government Complex Daejeon Station with Seodaejeon Station. This extension aims to establish a seamless, integrated transit system linking the Honam Railway Line, the Chungcheong Metropolitan Railway, and the under-construction Metro Line 2 Tram.

Daejeon City anticipates that this project will reinforce Seodaejeon Station’s role as a major transportation hub, enhance convenience for local commuters, revitalize the original downtown area, and accelerate the integration of a wide-area economic and living sphere across the Chungcheong region.

During his key presentation, Daejeon Administrative Vice Mayor Park Yeon-byeong emphasized, "The 5th National Railway Network Plan is more than just a facility expansion; it is a national undertaking to design South Korea's new growth engine. Having thrived with the opening of the Gyeongbu and Honam lines, Daejeon serves as the vital connection linking the capital region with the Yeongnam and Honam provinces."

He added, "Extending the CTX to Seodaejeon Station will complete an interconnected transit network combining general railways, metropolitan railways, and urban transit, significantly improving public mobility. We strongly hope that this extension will be included in the final 5th National Railway Network Plan to drive a transformative leap in South Korea’s railway connectivity."

Moving forward, Daejeon City plans to maintain close cooperation with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and other related authorities to ensure that the CTX Seodaejeon Station extension and other core regional projects are successfully reflected in the national plan.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]