Seoul, South Korea – The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has announced a comprehensive plan to expedite the underground development of railways across the country. The plan outlines a long-term roadmap to guide local governments and industry stakeholders in their efforts to underground railway lines and optimize land use.

A key focus of the plan is to prioritize projects that can generate sufficient revenue from above-ground development to offset the costs of underground construction. For projects with limited financial viability, the government will explore support options and consider the potential economic impact on local communities.

To streamline the implementation of these projects, the government plans to establish a dedicated subsidiary under the Korea Railroad Corporation. This new entity will be responsible for overseeing and managing underground railway development projects. Additionally, a unified accounting system will be implemented to facilitate the sharing of resources among different regions.

The scope of underground railway development projects has been expanded to include the construction of artificial platforms above railway facilities. This will allow for more intensive and versatile land use. The government will also offer various incentives to promote high-density development in these areas.

While the initial phase of the plan was originally scheduled for completion this year, it has been delayed due to ongoing negotiations with local governments. Some local authorities have proposed including all railway lines within their jurisdictions in the first phase, while others have raised concerns about funding.

The Ministry plans to form task forces to address these issues and finalize the details of the first phase of the project. Once agreements have been reached with local governments, the ministry will proceed with developing a comprehensive plan for nationwide railway underground development.