Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Accelerates Ultra-Wide-Area Transportation Network for Daejeon, Sejong, and Chungcheong Regions

MOLIT advances 2026-30 Daejeon-Sejong-Chungcheong transport plan, prioritizing regional connectivity and balanced growth via railways, BRTs, and transit hubs.

The Metropolitan Transportation Committee (Chairman Kang Hee-eop) under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) will hold a workshop on May 14 (Wednesday) in Daejeon to draft the 5th Metropolitan Transportation Implementation Plan (2026–2030). The focus is on strengthening connectivity across the Chungcheong region, addressing traffic demand between Daejeon and Sejong, and reviewing ongoing projects.

Key Discussions

Regional Priorities:

Daejeon City: Requests inclusion of a new transit hub in the 5th Plan, alongside updates on nine existing projects, including the Chungcheong Metropolitan Railway Phase 1 (35.4 km, 12 stations, under construction since late 2023).

Chungcheongnam-do (South Chungcheong): Proposes four new projects (two railways, one road, one BRT) and shares progress on three existing initiatives, such as the Sejong-Gongju BRT (18.5 km, operational by June 2026).

Chungcheongbuk-do (North Chungcheong): Seeks approval for three new projects (one road, two transit hubs) and updates on five ongoing projects, including the Daejeon-Sejong-Chungbuk Railway (64.4 km, feasibility study ongoing).

Implementation Framework:

The 5th Plan follows the Metropolitan Transportation Act and covers five major metropolitan areas (Seoul, Busan-Ulsan, Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon).

The 4th Plan (2021–2025) allocated 28 trillion KRW for 146 projects, including 47 railways, 25 roads, and 12 BRT lines.

Strategic Vision:

Chairman Kang emphasized, “The Daejeon-Sejong-Chungcheong corridor is pivotal for balanced national development and decongesting Seoul. With the launch of the Chungcheong Regional Alliance last year, integrated transportation networks will drive cohesive growth."

Next Steps

The committee will host a Seoul-area workshop in June 2024 and finalize the 5th Plan by year-end 2024.

Attendees: Local government officials (including Daejeon Vice Mayor Yoo Deuk-won), researchers from the Korea Transport Institute, and regional policy institutes.