CHANGWON — Road projects linking industrial logistics networks and tourism hubs have cleared a government review in South Korea's southeastern region. A total of 14 projects — nine in South Gyeongsang Province and five in North Gyeongsang Province — passed a batch preliminary feasibility review for the sixth national highway and local highway construction plan. The South Gyeongsang projects span 50.5 kilometers with a combined cost of 1.5036 trillion won ($1.1 billion), while the North Gyeongsang projects span 35.9 kilometers and cost 574.9 billion won ($414 million).
South Gyeongsang Province said on the 27th that nine road projects it has pursued since the start of the current provincial administration cleared the batch review. They include seven national highway projects and two provincial highways backed by the central government. The province expects the approvals to significantly improve balanced regional development as well as travel convenience and safety for residents.
Two of the projects are directly tied to industrial logistics networks. A new four-lane section of National Highway 33 between Sacheon and Jeongchon in Jinju, spanning 6.1 kilometers at a cost of 271.8 billion won, will connect the Sacheon aerospace national industrial complex with the Namhae Expressway. A new two-lane section of National Highway 79 between Bukmyeon in Changwon and Bugok in Changnyeong, spanning 6.4 kilometers at a cost of 170.5 billion won, will link a missing stretch of road to handle traffic and logistics demand from industrial and urban development in Changwon's Bukmyeon area.
Two projects connect tourism hubs. The Hansan Daecheop Bridge on National Highway 5 between Donam in Tongyeong and Hansan, spanning 2.7 kilometers at a cost of 339.6 billion won, is a sea bridge linking Donam-dong in Tongyeong with Hansan Island. It marks the starting point for a maritime national highway connecting islands along the southern coast and has long been sought by Hansan Island residents. A new section of National Highway 77 between Dosan in Tongyeong and Samsan in Goseong, spanning 3.8 kilometers at a cost of 136.5 billion won, will connect a severed stretch of coastal road.
Five projects target balanced development and traffic safety. They include widening National Highway 19 between Gojeon and Hadong to four lanes (8.8 kilometers, 153 billion won), widening National Highway 20 between Sicheon and Danseong in Sancheong to four lanes (7.1 kilometers, 142.8 billion won), upgrading National Highway 59 between Sancheong and Chahwang (6.7 kilometers, 83.8 billion won), building a new section of Provincial Highway 60 between Daesan in Haman and Burim in Uiryeong (7.2 kilometers, 145.7 billion won), and upgrading Provincial Highway 37 between Baekjeon and Seoha in Hamyang (1.7 kilometers, 59.9 billion won).
In North Gyeongsang Province, two new road projects and three upgrade projects cleared the review. The section between Nongong and Habin in Dalseong, Daegu (7.6 kilometers, 156.4 billion won), aims to expand the metropolitan transport network between Daegu and Goryeong and strengthen logistics links for industrial complexes. The section between Sadong and Dodong in Ulleung (2.7 kilometers, 163.8 billion won) will add a new two-lane stretch of Provincial Highway 90 to relieve a bottleneck on Ulleung County's loop road and handle tourism demand ahead of the 2028 opening of Ulleung Airport. The upgrade projects cover the Cheongha-Jukjang section in Pohang, the Pungcheon-Pungsan section in Andong and the Naeseo-Yeonwon section in Sangju.
"Clearing the batch feasibility review for these nine projects is the starting point for building a new road network that connects South Gyeongsang's industry, tourism and the daily lives of our residents," said Park Il-woong, administrative vice governor of South Gyeongsang Province. "We will work jointly with local lawmakers, cities and counties, and related agencies to secure state funding on schedule."
