Ahead of the June 3 Incheon mayoral by-election, People Power Party candidate Yoo Jeong-bok and Democratic Party candidate Park Chan-dae unveiled competing transportation pledges on Wednesday. Both prioritized expanding metropolitan rail networks, but their top priorities diverged.
Yoo put previously confirmed projects front and center. His plan centers on the confirmed construction of a new Cheonghak Station on the GTX-B line, the opening of the Incheon-origin KTX service in December this year, and accelerated groundbreaking for the western metropolitan express railway. He presented relocating the Incheon KTX departure point from the current Songdo Station to Incheon Airport Station as his top-priority task. "Railways are not about words but about capability," Yoo said, highlighting his achievements during his incumbent term.
Park placed greater weight on new projects. His pledges include undergrounding the Gyeongin Line, building the Second Gyeongin Line (Seoul Metropolitan Southwestern Metropolitan Railway), and reviving the Juan-Yeonsu Line. He also proposed constructing a grid-type ring road network with five east-west and six north-south axes. "How can we get done after losing power what we couldn't accomplish while we had it?" Park said, emphasizing his experience as former ruling party floor leader.
The two sides differ on priorities. Yoo placed the Incheon Airport KTX at the top of his list, a plan to shift the current route starting from Songdo Station to Incheon Airport Station. Park's camp put GTX-D and GTX-E first, citing expected benefits in resolving transit issues in the northwestern region and delivering express metropolitan services comparable to KTX.
The candidates share five common projects: the GTX-D and GTX-E lines, extension of Seoul Subway Line 5 to Geomdan, extension of the Daejang-Hongdae Line to Cheongna and Gyeyang, trams in Songdo and Yeongjong, and a Nonhyeon Station stop on the Wolgot-Pangyo Line. However, GTX-D and GTX-E have yet to be incorporated into the Fifth National Railway Network Plan (2026-2035). The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport delayed the plan's announcement due to a surge in local government project proposals (worth roughly 650 trillion won) and shifting political conditions. The plan is expected to be finalized and announced after the third quarter.
The Gyeongin Line undergrounding project was excluded from the ministry's pilot projects late last year. The approximately 9.5 trillion won price tag for the 27-kilometer route proved an obstacle. Incheon City has since adjusted the project's scope and secured its inclusion in the Comprehensive Plan for Integrated Railway Undergrounding Development, set to be announced late this year.
Incheon's annual traffic congestion cost stands at 4.28 trillion won, according to the Korea Transport Institute's 2021 data. Expanding the metropolitan transit network will remain the top priority regardless of who wins the election.
