Celebration of Road Day

Event recalls huge role of highways in economic development

Ceremonies for the 16th Road Day and launching of Korea Road Forum took place on July 6 at the Seoul Cultural Education Association auditorium in southern Seoul sponsored by the Korea Road Transportation Association and Korea Road Forum with the support of the Ministry of Construction and Transportation and the Korea Expressway Corp.
Minister Lee Yong-sup of the Ministry of Construction and Transportation, said his congratulatory speech, he would like to congratulate all the people in the construction and road transportation industry for what they have done so far in building roads and highways to facilitate the national development. As you all know, the Road Day was established to celebrate the opening of the Seoul-Busan Expressway July 7, 1970. The expressway opened the age of highways in the country, providing a base for the phenomenal economic take-off of the nation ranked the 11th in the world in terms of economic scale.
The minister said the nation had only 40,000 km of roads,
but it has now over 3,000 km of highway network across the country and 100,000 km of roads. Other countries would have taken some 100 years, but you have completed them in just over 30 years. The government plans to build more highways in the future so that they would stretch for some 6,000 km double the current length by 2020 so that any place in the country can be reached in 30 minutes. About half of the highways will have four lanes by 2010 to facilitate the reductions in logistics costs and help the industrial support.
The minister, however, warned that all of those engaged in the road construction should redouble their efforts to eliminate accidents on roads and highways such as collapse of the road foundations due to shoddy designs and construction work caused by irresponsible work ethics and insensitivity for safety.
MOCT has been strengthening the inspection of construction work and safety management of roads and highways in diversified manners,
but what is needed the most is those engaged in road construction themselves to prevent and reduce accidents on roads and highways.
In his speech at the ceremony, Son Hak-lai, chairman of the Korea Road Transportation Association and also president of the Korea Expressway Corp. said that the day is the birthday for all people in the construction industry as well as marking the construction of the Seoul-Busan Expressway 37 years ago, a key part of the nation's transportation artery. The nation has 25 highways stretching for 3,100 km and 102,000 km of roads, which played a key role in the national development, making the entire country a half-day life circle with any place in the country can be reached in half a day.
The road construction industry has reached a point to even consider building a global highway network including an Asian highway, attesting to a rapid take-off of the road transportation industry.
So, he said, the event today is significant one as we look back at our history including the breath-taking moments when the Seoul-Busan Expressway was opened,
a project that was considered impossible to complete in such a short period of time.
He said we brought hope in the country almost barren of roads and highways with only two fists and passion and as a result, some 90 percent of cargoes are moved on the land, working as an artery of logistics in the country.
In the meantime, the Korea Road Forum was launched in the ceremony as a research institute on policies on roads and highways. The forum will be responsible for policy recommendations, holding discussion sessions on matters related to roads and highways, the collection of ideas on major issues and holding international academic conferences on roads and highways and participation in those conferences at home and abroad.
Oh Myung, former science-technology minister, has been named to head the institute as chairman.
Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction President Lee Kang-rok were conferred with the Order of Industrial Service, Bronze Tower in recognition of his contribution the the development of the construction industry. nw

Minister Lee Yong-sup of the Ministry of Construction and Transportation (second photo from right) delivers a commemorative speech during the Road Day anniversary event. Son Hak-lai, chairman of the Korea Road Transportation Association, was also a speaker during the anniversary event, which coincided with the inauguration of the Road Forum. Oh Myung, chairman of the Road Forum, is among the participants of the events.