Kim Nam-won, Incheon Seo-gu Councillor: “Incheon Circular Line 3 is the core of the internal circulation network… The financial crisis from the division must be addressed by Incheon City”

With the prompt advancement of the ‘Incheon Circular Line 3’, a long-cherished project of Incheon Seo-gu, voices have emerged urging Incheon City to provide full support for the serious financial deficit arising ahead of the separation of Seo-gu and Geomdan-gu.

Kim Nam-won, a member of the Incheon Seo-gu Council (Democratic Party, Cheongna 3, Dangha, Oryu-wang-gil, Majon-dong), focused on the expansion plan of the rail transport network and the financial soundness issues arising from the district separation during the major work report at the 278th extraordinary session held on the 3rd.

In the report on the ‘expansion of the comprehensive rail transport network’, Councillor Kim reviewed the current status of the Incheon Circular Line 3 project. He emphasised, “After the approval of the urban rail network construction plan in 2026, preliminary feasibility studies and other processes must proceed without delay,” adding, “The third circular line connecting Songdo, Cheongna, and Geomdan New Town is as important a route for connecting Incheon internally as the metropolitan rail network.”

In response, a district official stated, “With nine stations included in Seo-gu alone, transportation convenience will be dramatically improved,” and added, “If the construction plan is approved in the first half of this year, we will start construction after 2027 with the aim of completing it in the mid-2030s.”

During the subsequent inquiry from the Budget and Legal Affairs Department, Councillor Kim expressed strong concerns regarding the financial crisis situation in Seo-gu reported in the media recently. He questioned, “In a situation where even civil servant salaries cannot be fully allocated for a year due to austerity measures, we have to divide the large budget for the district separation. Currently, the essential expenses that Seo-gu has not secured amount to 123.3 billion won; what measures are in place?”

In particular, Councillor Kim reminded that the ‘administrative system reform (district separation)’ is one of the fundamental causes of this financial crisis and is a promise made by the Mayor of Incheon. He stated, “The district separation, which is being promoted as a mayoral promise, has put Seo-gu’s finances on the brink of collapse, and it is contradictory for Incheon City not to take responsibility,” and urged, “The district office must raise its voice more strongly to secure financial support at the metropolitan level.”

Furthermore, Councillor Kim pointed out that major development projects, such as the Cheongna International Financial District, are flowing towards a focus on officetels contrary to their original purpose, and he reprimanded that the Seo-gu Office’s ‘strengthening of consultation rights’ should not remain at a theoretical level. He added, “To ensure that the residents' wishes are reflected, communication channels with relevant agencies such as Incheon City and the Economic Agency must be continuously operated, and specific work plans should be established.”

A district official stated, “We are continuously requesting financial support from Incheon City and will do our best to ensure that residents' opinions are reflected in the development project consultation process.”