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'Closer inter-Korean ties with Gwangmyeong-Kaesong railway,' says study

'Closer inter-Korean ties with Gwangmyeong-Kaesong railway,' says study

Posted August. 18, 2017 07:25,   

Updated August. 18, 2017 07:53

한국어

Discussions have been made on connecting the railway that will penetrate the inter-Korean borders, by constructing a South-North railroad from Gwangmyeong Station in South Korea to Kaesong in North Korea. Gwangmyeong City held its "Seminar on outsourcing Gwangmyeong-Kaesong Eurasia Continental Railway" on Thursday at Dorasan Station in Paju. Among around one hundred visitors, participants include Gwangmyeong Mayor Yang Ki-dae, lawmakers Song Young-gil and Park Jeong of the Democratic Party, and the Dean of Graduate School of the Korea National University of Transportation Jin Jang-won.

By outsourcing research projects, the Gwangmyeong city government expects to elaborate its "Plan for Developing KTX Gwangmyeong Station as the Departure Station for Eurasia Continental Railway," which first was brought to the table in 2015. Once opened, it expects Gwangmyeong Station to hold more competitive advantages than Seoul Station in terms of cost and distance.

KTX Gwangmyeong Station is known as the transportation hub in the metropolitan area, connecting five railways and five regional highways. Indeed, the station shows promising signs, as four rail lines, including the new Ansan Line double track railway, and two road networks, including Gwangmyeong-Seoul private highway, will be constructed.

Furthermore, passengers will enjoy a "one-day trip to Southeast Asian countries" when the new railway is connected with the express railroad construction project (Kaesong-Haeju-Pyongyang-Sinuiju-Dandong (China) agreed between North Korea and China in 2014. Once constructed, the express train is expected to connect KTX Gwangmyeong Station and Beijing in just seven hours.



Jie-Hyun Roh isityou@donga.com