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Future Connected by Urban Rail: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Approves the Second Busan Metropolitan City Urban Rail Network Plan

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Park Heong-joon, announced that the Second Busan Metropolitan City Urban Rail Network Plan (2026–2035), for which approval was requested from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in June 2025, has passed deliberation by the National Transport Committee and has today (June 26) received final approval and official notification from the Ministry.

As part of the planning process, Busan Metropolitan City completed all required procedures in stages, including a preliminary review by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, consultation with the Busan Metropolitan Council, public hearings involving citizens and experts, consultations with specialized and related organizations, and deliberation by the Urban Transportation Policy Working Committee. The plan ultimately received recognition for its validity and feasibility through final deliberation by the National Transport Committee.

The National Transport Committee is the government's highest-level transport policy deliberation body responsible for conducting the final review of the overall feasibility of urban rail network plans and their consistency with national transportation policy before granting approval. Approval of this plan signifies national-level recognition of the policy rationale and necessity of Busan Metropolitan City's urban rail network plan. It also marks the successful completion of the first major step toward full-scale implementation of individual urban rail projects.

The Second Busan Metropolitan City Urban Rail Network Plan is a statutory plan established every 10 years under the Urban Rail Act and serves as the highest-level master plan presenting the fundamental direction for future urban rail construction projects.

The plan comprehensively reflects changes in the Busan metropolitan area's urban development and transportation environment since the first urban rail network plan, including the construction of Gadeokdo New Airport, North Port Redevelopment, Eco Delta City, and the Centum 2 District, all of which are expected to reshape the city's future spatial structure.

The plan designates 10 priority routes totaling 145.66 kilometers that satisfy the selection criteria of an economic feasibility ratio (B/C) of at least 0.7 or an overall appraisal score (AHP) of at least 0.5. In addition, four candidate routes totaling 33.82 kilometers have been proposed for future consideration. Although these routes currently have relatively lower economic feasibility, they may become necessary as urban development and transportation conditions evolve.

The 10 priority routes include the Busan Rapid Express Rail connecting Gadeokdo New Airport with Myeongji, Busan Station, Centum, and Osiria; the Busan Port Line linking the original downtown area with the North Port Redevelopment District; the Jeonggwan Line connecting the Busan–Yangsan–Ulsan Metropolitan Railway with Jeonggwan New Town and Jwacheon Station on the Donghae Line; the Songdo Line connecting major tourism and residential corridors in western Busan; the Gangseo Line linking Eco Delta City and the Myeongji area; the Gijang Line connecting Urban Rail Line 4 with the Ilgwang District; the Yeonsan–Second Centum Line connecting Yeonsan Station with Togok and the Centum 2 District; the Osiria Line to improve access to the Osiria Tourism Complex; and express service upgrades for Busan Metro Line 2 and Busan Metro Line 1.

The four candidate routes are the Oryukdo Line, the Jurye–Busan Station Connector Branch Line, the East Busan Line, and the Deokcheon–Choeup–Seomyeon Line.

Following approval of the network plan, Busan Metropolitan City will proceed with follow-up procedures in stages, taking into account the economic feasibility and implementation conditions of each route, including preliminary feasibility studies and the preparation of basic implementation plans.

As a priority, the city will begin full-scale follow-up procedures by applying for the Busan Port Line to be designated as a project subject to a preliminary feasibility study during the second half of this year in order to accelerate its implementation.

In addition, the city will actively consider conducting the preparation of the basic implementation plan in parallel with the preliminary feasibility study in order to respond proactively to the feasibility review process and shorten the overall project implementation period.

The city also plans to examine the introduction of connector branch lines centered on the Busan Port Line, including the Munhyeon–Citizens Park section and the Daeyeon–Oryukdo section, thereby laying the foundation for an urban rail network linking the original downtown area with major coastal destinations.

Lim Kyung-mo, Assistant Mayor of Urban Innovation and Balanced Development Office, said, "With the approval of the Second Busan Metropolitan City Urban Rail Network Plan, the blueprint for Busan's urban rail system over the next decade has now been completed." He added, "We will continue expanding the urban rail network to strengthen mobility for our citizens and make every effort to enhance key urban transportation infrastructure as Busan advances as a global maritime city."