The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Minister Kim Yun-duk attended the first Jeonju-area Metropolitan Transportation Committee held on the 5th at the Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC) Jeonju Arboretum in North Jeolla and discussed projects proposed by North Jeolla Province for inclusion in the fifth metropolitan transportation implementation plan (2026–2030).
This meeting is the first for the newly established Jeonju-area Metropolitan Transportation Committee under the revised Special Act on the Management of Metropolitan Transportation in Large Cities, which took effect on Oct. 23. Centered on Jeonju, it was prepared as a venue to discuss metropolitan transportation issues in the North Jeolla living area, including Gimje, Iksan, Gunsan and Wanju, and to review the implementation conditions and priorities of the proposed projects.
Minister Kim said, "I am deeply moved, as this is where the government's regional balanced development strategy takes its first step in the field," adding, "Jeonju, as the central living area of North Jeolla and a key hub linking industry, culture and tourism as well as the center of metropolitan transportation, will form the foundation for balanced regional development by closely connecting the Jeonju area's roads, railways and transfer systems."
Following the Jeonju-area Metropolitan Transportation Committee, Minister Kim visited major sites proposed by North Jeolla Province for inclusion in the fifth plan, including KTX Iksan Station and the Jeonju General Stadium–Wanju Gumi (Moak-ro) road, to examine implementation conditions.
Minister Kim said, "Expanding the transportation network is a key task to enhance residents' travel convenience and the connection of living areas," and added, "We will closely examine the opinions and conditions raised on site."
Starting with the Jeonju area, the metropolitan transport commission plans to sequentially convene regional committees within the year in local areas such as the Busan–Ulsan area, Daegu area, Daejeon area and Gwangju area, and conduct a comprehensive review of the progress of metropolitan transportation network construction projects.