Back-to-back meetings with 9 agencies from 8 countries, including Laos and Panama

Korean transit-oriented development model showcased to overseas clients

Korea National Railway Chairman Jung Jin-hyuk (right) and Mirzoali Komil Jumahon, president of Tajikistan's national railway, pose for a photo after signing an MOU at GICC 2026 on Wednesday. [Korea National Railway]
Korea National Railway Chairman Jung Jin-hyuk (right) and Mirzoali Komil Jumahon, president of Tajikistan's national railway, pose for a photo after signing an MOU at GICC 2026 on Wednesday. [Korea National Railway]

Korea National Railway said Thursday it had expanded railway cooperation with major overseas clients and partner agencies at the Global Infrastructure Cooperation Conference (GICC) 2026, held at the Conrad Seoul in Yeouido from Tuesday through Thursday, strengthening the foundation for Korean railway's advance into international markets.

Hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and organized by the Overseas Construction Association of Korea, GICC is an international forum that brings together senior officials — including ministers, vice ministers and CEOs — from major overseas project owners alongside domestic agencies and companies to build cooperation on global infrastructure projects.

During the conference, Korea National Railway organized a transportation cooperation seminar and delivered a presentation on Korea's transit-oriented development (TOD) model. The session allowed the agency to share Korea's experience integrating railway development with urban planning to improve accessibility and raise the value of transit-oriented areas.

In addition, Korea National Railway signed an MOU with Tajikistan's national railway, agreeing to pool efforts in four areas: sharing information and providing advice on railway project issues, exchanging information and technology in the railway sector, strengthening the capacity of railway professionals, and operating a working-level consultative body to identify areas for cooperation.

The agency had previously signed a railway cooperation MOU with Tajikistan's Ministry of Transport in 2022. With this latest agreement extending that framework to Tajikistan's national railway operator, Korea National Railway said it plans to intensify bilateral exchanges and working-level consultations to actively pursue opportunities to participate in local railway projects.

Alongside the MOU signing, the agency held a series of meetings with senior overseas officials, including Laos' minister of public works and transport and the director general of Panama's national railway authority. The talks covered local railway and transport infrastructure development plans and the status of key projects, while exploring multiple avenues for cooperation drawing on Korea National Railway's technical expertise and project management capabilities.

Korea National Railway engaged with nine agencies from eight countries at this year's GICC, significantly broadening its network of key project owners. The agency said it will continue to identify promising railway projects based on outcomes from the MOU and bilateral meetings, and will actively support Korean companies in entering global markets.

"GICC is an important venue for gauging infrastructure development needs across countries and finding new possibilities for cooperation," Korea National Railway Chairman Jung Jin-hyuk said. "We will do our utmost to further solidify trust with major project owners through this event, and to ensure that the outstanding technology and experience of Korean railway translates into greater results and opportunities in overseas markets."

Meanwhile, Korea National Railway on Wednesday unveiled a new management philosophy called "BASE: Building the Future on Fundamentals and Principles." The acronym stands for Best Safety, Accountable Fairness, Systematic Field and Evolving Mobility — the four management directions Jung emphasized when he took office Sept. 1.


hwshin@heraldcorp.com