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Gadeokdo New Airport Railway Link Passes Preliminary Feasibility Study: Mayor Park Heong-joon Calls It “A Core Transport Infrastructure for the Bu-Ul-Gyeong Mega Regional Economic Zone”

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that the “Gadeokdo New Airport Railway Link Project” has passed the government’s preliminary feasibility study today (10 March), marking the full-scale promotion of a key railway infrastructure project that will dramatically improve accessibility to Gadeokdo New Airport.

The Gadeokdo New Airport railway link project will build a new 6.58-kilometer railway connection linking the currently under-construction “Bujeon–Masan Double-Track Railway” with the existing “Busan New Port Line,” with a total project cost of approximately KRW 602.5 billion.

Once the project is completed, ITX-Maum trains will operate every 25 minutes along the 101.7-kilometer route from Ulsan Taehwagang Station to Gadeokdo New Airport. Travel time will be reduced to about 26 minutes from Bujeon Station to the new airport and about 92 minutes from Ulsan Taehwagang Station to the airport, significantly improving airport accessibility for residents of Busan and Ulsan.

In addition, the existing freight railway route between Busan New Port and Ulsan New Port, which previously detoured toward Samrangjin, will become a direct connection. This change will shorten logistics travel distance by about 60 kilometers, contributing to reduced logistics costs and strengthened port competitiveness.

In particular, the construction of this railway link is evaluated as a key infrastructure project that will complete the southeastern region’s “Tri-Port (airport, port, and rail)” logistics system by connecting Gadeokdo New Airport, Busan New Port, and the regional railway network.

Busan Metropolitan City has continuously proposed the need to build a key railway network to enhance access to Gadeokdo New Airport, which resulted in the project being included in the Fourth National Railway Network Construction Plan (2021–2030) in July 2021.

Since then, the city has worked closely with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and other related ministries, emphasizing transportation demand and regional development effects throughout the preliminary feasibility study process in order to advance the project.

In particular, the project passed the preliminary feasibility study on 10 March 2026—approximately four years and eight months after its inclusion in the national plan—an outcome widely seen as the result of Busan Metropolitan City’s sustained proposals and proactive efforts.

The approval of the preliminary feasibility study represents a meaningful achievement in which the necessity and feasibility of building a core railway network linking Gadeokdo New Airport and Busan New Port have been officially recognized at the government level.

Busan Metropolitan City also plans to accelerate the project by actively consulting with the government on the establishment of the basic plan and subsequent administrative procedures so that the railway access system can be completed in time for the opening of Gadeokdo New Airport.

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “The approval of the preliminary feasibility study for the Gadeokdo New Airport railway link marks an important turning point in elevating Gadeokdo New Airport into a global gateway airport for southern Korea. Once a railway network is established that quickly connects Busan’s urban center and Ulsan to the new airport, it will greatly enhance travel convenience for citizens while also strengthening logistics competitiveness and revitalizing the regional economy.”

He added, “Busan Metropolitan City will continue to work closely with the government to ensure that the project proceeds as quickly as possible. Through this effort, we will complete the southeastern region’s Tri-Port system linking Gadeokdo New Airport, Busan New Port, and railways, and establish a core transport infrastructure for the Bu-Ul-Gyeong mega regional economic zone.”