Just one day after visiting Cheorwon in Gangwon Province on Wednesday to hear a long list of requests from the county's opposition-party chief, ruling-party Governor Woo Sang-ho met Thursday with Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Yun-deok to press the central government on key infrastructure projects, including the Pocheon–Cheorwon expressway.
Woo had already familiarized himself with the status of the Pocheon–Cheorwon expressway and other major infrastructure projects in the province during his time as governor-elect, making the case for their necessity. His visit to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport — the first ministry call since taking office — was aimed at personally explaining the importance of the province's priority projects.
In the meeting, Woo planned to tell the minister that infrastructure development is the starting point for making Gangwon Province truly "special," arguing that people must be drawn to the region before it can survive and escape the threat of depopulation.
He also intended to convey that regions long neglected due to military and geographic constraints — like Gangwon — deserve special compensatory support from the government.
A decision on whether the Pocheon–Cheorwon expressway — the province's top infrastructure priority — passes its preliminary feasibility review is expected in the second half of this year, with the province and the ministry in the final stages of a joint push to secure approval. In the meeting, Woo planned to argue beyond simple economic logic, stressing the province's geographic characteristics and the induced demand that tourism supply can generate. He intended to make the case that the expressway is the gateway that will allow tourists from the northern Greater Seoul area to easily reach border regions such as Hwacheon, Yanggu and Inje, and enjoy Gangwon's pristine natural environment.
Cheorwon has spent decades marginalized or subject to development restrictions due to its ambiguous geographic position, and Inje faces a similar situation. Of late, Inje has been pouring energy into cultural, tourism and sports development — improving its offerings and launching a marketing campaign called "Inje Sinnam," inspired by road signs pointing to the town.
The government's major five-year infrastructure plan is expected to be finalized around August or September, making it urgent for provincial leadership to submit recommendations before the plan is locked in. Woo chose to visit the ministry in person to actively make the case for including as many of Gangwon Province's key projects as possible.
Among the three major national infrastructure plans, the province is working to have a circular expressway network for Gangwon — linking Sokcho to Goseong and Cheorwon to Goseong to form a loop — included in the third national expressway construction plan.
Regarding the fifth national railway network plan, the province has been continuously urging the central government to build an expansive inter-regional rail network connecting the province's five hubs and three special zones, including lines between Chuncheon and Wonju, Pyeongchang and Jeongseon, and the Taebaek Yeongdong line.
For the sixth national and local road construction plan, the Ministry of Planning and Budget and the Korea Development Institute are currently conducting a batch preliminary feasibility assessment covering 148 sites nationwide. Of those, 23 are in Gangwon Province, and the governor is in talks with the ministry to stress that every one of those projects is necessary and important, with the aim of securing approval for as many as possible.
abc@heraldcorp.com
