Gimpo Mayor Kim Byung-soo said Wednesday that "there should be no partisan divide when it comes to citizens' safety and lives," expressing hope that the preliminary feasibility study for the Seoul Metro Line 5 extension to Gimpo will be approved in March.
"I am grateful that National Assembly members joined Prime Minister Kim Min-seok's visit to Gimpo today to support the Line 5 extension," Kim wrote on his social media account. He added that "a remarkable wave of change has continued" since Gimpo City announced it would bear 550 billion won in costs and a National Assembly petition exceeded 50,000 signatures. "I pay respect to the will of Gimpo citizens who have moved the government and the National Assembly," he said.
Prime Minister Kim visited Sau Station on the Gimpo Gold Line Wednesday morning to personally inspect train congestion conditions. Gimpo Mayor Kim, National Assembly members Kim Joo-young, Park Sang-hyuk, and Mo Kyung-jong, as well as the chairman of the Greater Seoul Metropolitan Area Committee, attended the site visit.
The inspection came as congestion persists despite measures including additional train services, and coincided with a National Assembly public petition for the Line 5 extension to Gimpo surpassing 50,000 signatures and being referred to the relevant standing committee.
At Sau Station, Prime Minister Kim received briefings on Gimpo Gold Line operations and congestion conditions. He also reviewed congestion reduction measures, safety protocols, and progress on the Line 5 extension project. Additional measures for congestion improvement were discussed, including the introduction of dedicated bus lanes on Olympic Expressway and procurement of five additional train sets.
Mayor Kim urged the Prime Minister that "passing the preliminary feasibility study for Line 5 is urgent as a fundamental solution." Participants agreed that short-term measures alone have limitations and reaffirmed that extending Seoul Metro Line 5 to Gimpo-Geomdan is the fundamental solution.
"I fully understand the need for expanding rail infrastructure, including the western metropolitan railway network, Incheon Line 2 extension, and Seoul Line 5 extension to Gimpo," Prime Minister Kim said. "We cannot overlook the situation where citizens must endure inconveniences until the railway network is completed."
He added, "From short-term measures for immediate congestion relief to long-term railway network expansion, the Prime Minister's Office will directly oversee efforts to ensure that the inconveniences faced by Gimpo citizens are substantially resolved."