Korea as Logistics Hub

KRNA at the forefront of gov't effort to expand rail transportation system

The Korea Rail Network Authority held a reception to officially open its operation for the New Year Jan. 24 at its office with a number of dignitaries and staff attending led by Minister of Construction and Transportation Lee Young-sup and President of Korea Railroad Corp. Lee Cheol.
President Lee Sung-kwon, in his speech, wished that every family member of the KRNA would be healthy and achieve all wishes they have during the new year which is known as the Year of the Golden Pig on lunar calendar that comes around every 600 years. He also thanked the dignitaries for coming to take part in the event.
The government has been long been pushing its policies for expanding its investment in railroad facilities, an environment-friendly and effective transportation system, as part of its plan to make Korea a hub country for logistics in northeast Asia.
We at the KRNA have been engaged in the work to expand the railroad network in the country in support of the government policy in the past three years since its establishment.
As a result, KRNA has successfully completed a total of 15 projects including the first-stage project of the Seoul-Busan High-Speed Railroad and the electrification of the entire sections of the Seoul-Busan Railroad.
The rail authority carried out the Six Sigma Program to reform management, and strengthened its quality management capacity to be able to supply high-quality rail on time.
The fact that KRNA has been achieve such a long list of projects as a professional railroad organization is owed to families of KRNA and dignitaries present at this event who spared no effort and support for the growth of KRNA, he said.
The KRNA president Lee said the authority plans to invest 4.l trillion in railroad facilities in the country this year including the second-stage project of the Seoul-Busan High-Speed Railroad and the construction of the Honam High-Speed Railroad, 54 general railroads and the expansion of wide-area rail network.
Some 900 billion won will be invested in the second-stage expansion project of the Seoul-Busan high-speed rail to complete half of the project and expedite the Honam High-Speed Railroad project which is in its drawing stage.
This year, the first-stage of the Incheon International Airport railroad will be completed, along with a number of other railroad construction projects around the country including the Cheonan-Onyang section of the Central Railroad Line and the Deokso-Paldang section of the Janghang Railroad Line to provide a wider railroad transportation service to the public.
We also plan to launch the construction of the Jeolla Line and the BTL section of the Gyeongjeon Line-altogether 4 new projects this year.
We will double our efforts to make KRNA a first-rate professional railroad authority in the world through sustained drive for changes and reform, President Lee said.
He thanked again for hard work of those for the development of the railroad system in the country, family members and dignitaries. He asked for their continued support for KRNA to lead the effort for balanced development of the country and the economy this year too, so that it could be at the forefront of globalization scheme. nw

Dignitaries, including Minister of Construction and Transportation Lee Young-sup, Rep. Sun Byung-ryul, President of Korea Railroad Corp. Lee Cheol and KRNA President Lee Sung-kown, cut a cake during the New Year's gathering on Jan. 24.
(right photo) President Lee Sung-kwon of Korea Rail Network Authority.