By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
United New Democratic Party (UNDP) presidential candidate Chung Dong-young pledged Thursday to construct 1,175 kilometers of railway lines.
His grand plan is apparently aimed at competing with the canal project proposed by leading candidate Lee Myung-bak of the Grand National Party (GNP).
Chung, a former unification minister, vowed to make the southeastern port city of Busan a terminal to link the nation to Europe by railway.
``Railways have an advantage over waterways in terms of economic efficiency, promptness and eco-friendliness,'' he told reporters in Busan. ``We can expect the country to strengthen its competitiveness as railways would cut logistics costs and boost economic cooperation between South and North Korea.''
The project is to build five major railway networks across the nation for regional unity.
The first railway is to extend existing north-south railroads to North Korea and the Eurasian Continent, which will reduce logistics costs, Chung said.
He added railways for express trains operating in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province will help ease traffic jams during rush hours and facilitate balanced development in Seoul.
He also promised to achieve balanced development between western Jeolla and eastern Gyeongsang provinces by connecting Jeolla's Iksan with Gyeongsang's Gimcheon.
Chung vowed to help promote tourism in Gangwon Province through high-speed railways from Seoul to Sokcho.
A total of 38.7 trillion won (about $42.6 billion) is needed to build the 1,175 kilometers of railway lines over 10 years, he said.
The necessary budget can be provided by transportation taxes, he added.
``I heard that the inland canal project will cost up to 53 trillion won,'' Chung said. ``However, it is cheaper and more environmentally friendly to construct railways for Korea which is surrounded by sea on three sides.''
The TV anchor-turned-politician claimed his project will connect Seoul with Pyongyang, and Busan with Paris, which will be enhance the nation's presence on international markets, especially Europe.
Railways can also shorten the time required to reach a destination, he said.
For example, he said, it takes 35 days for shipping cargo from Seoul and Moscow but using railways, it will take only 20 days.
The UNDP nominee insisted his railway project will help increase exports and national wealth.