Yeoncheon County in Gyeonggi Province and the Korea National Railway Authority have agreed to jointly share the cost of constructing the Guup overpass bridge. With the long-standing cost-sharing issue resolved, the project is expected to gain momentum.
Yeoncheon County said Wednesday that it held an on-site mediation meeting on the "Installation of the Guup Overpass Bridge for Reopening the Yeoncheon Guup Railroad Crossing" collective civil complaint at the county office's main conference room, presided over by the Vice Chairperson and Secretary General of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC).
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Guup Railroad Crossing Opening Promotion Committee, the head of the Korea National Railway Authority's Metropolitan Area Headquarters, Deputy County Mayor Park Jong-il (acting county mayor), and about 50 residents.
The core of the ACRC mediation proposal is the cost-sharing ratio. The two sides agreed that the Korea National Railway Authority will cover 75% of the total project cost, while Yeoncheon County will bear the remaining 25%. The agreement also includes joint implementation of the project by both parties.
The Guup overpass bridge installation has been a long-cherished project for Yeoncheon County. However, the project had been at a standstill due to persistent disagreements between Yeoncheon County and the Korea National Railway Authority over who should bear the costs. The latest mediation meeting removed the biggest obstacle.
Before the mediation meeting, participants visited the Guup railroad crossing site and heard an explanation of the project's progress from the head of the Yeoncheon County Economy and Transportation Division.
"I am grateful to the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission for presenting the mediation proposal and to the Korea National Railway Authority for accepting it," Deputy County Mayor Park Jong-il said. "Starting with this mediation meeting, we will cooperate with the Korea National Railway Authority to push the project forward as soon as possible."
