President Lee: "Southern Inland Railway Linking the Capital Region and Geoje in Two Hours Will Transform the Nation"

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[Financial News] President Lee Jae-myung stated on the 6th, "The Southern Inland Railway is not simply a project to lay another track. It marks the beginning of a grand transformation of our national territory that will move us away from a single-core system where everything is concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area, connect people and regions, link opportunities, and create new engines of regional growth."
Attending the groundbreaking ceremony for the Southern Inland Railway in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, President Lee said, "Today will be remembered as a historic day when we break away from growth centered on the capital region, which has reached its limits, and throw open a new door to region-led growth."
President Lee noted, "In the past, because Korea lacked resources and opportunities, we pursued an all-in strategy that concentrated virtually all resources and chances in one place. We funneled every opportunity into the Seoul metropolitan area in terms of regions, into a few large conglomerates in terms of companies, and into certain social groups."
He continued, "It is true that this so-called trickle-down effect, where the fruits of growth were expected to flow down and be shared by all, produced considerable results. However, this single-core, unbalanced growth strategy has now reached its limits."
President Lee warned, "If everything keeps concentrating in Seoul so that housing prices there skyrocket and the city becomes nearly unlivable, while local regions lose population and face extinction, then sustainable growth and development for this country will be impossible." He added, "Balanced growth and balanced development must now be adopted as Korea’s survival strategy."
He explained, "With this railway, travel time from the Seoul metropolitan area to Geoje will be reduced to around two hours, and many parts of North and South Gyeongsang Province will fall within a half-day living radius nationwide." He stressed, "All of these benefits will be enjoyed by the residents of these provinces."
He went on, "The beautiful Dadohae archipelago along the South Coast and the magnificent inland mountains will be linked as one. Tourism along the South Coast will rise to a world-class level, and this will in turn revive local commercial districts and create countless jobs."
He also said, "The space and aviation industry in Jinju and Sacheon, and the shipbuilding and marine industry in Geoje, will connect with inland logistics hubs to further strengthen their competitiveness. Industrial complexes that spring up along the railway line will turn many parts of North and South Gyeongsang Province into vibrant cities that young people return to."
In particular, he pointed out, "This place where today’s groundbreaking ceremony is being held is the Gyeonnaeryang Strait, where Admiral Yi Sun-sin achieved victory in the Battle of Hansando." He emphasized, "If in the past Gyeonnaeryang was the front line in defending the nation, today’s Gyeonnaeryang will become the starting point for Korea’s new leap forward through balanced regional development."
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President Lee pledged to do his utmost to ensure that the Southern Inland Railway becomes a new path for transforming Korea’s national territory. He stressed, "The farther a region is from the Seoul metropolitan area, the more boldly and generously we will support it, so that the southern region can emerge as a maritime capital and we can surely achieve a major shift to a five-core, three-special regional system."
He also called for strict attention to safety. "Lastly, I have a request for everyone on site. Above all, safety is paramount," President Lee said. "Throughout the construction process, please adhere thoroughly to safety rules and spare no investment in safety, so that not a single safety accident occurs and not one worker suffers an industrial injury."
cjk@fnnews.com Choi Jong-geun Reporter