South Korea launches super-regional transport strategy forum

South Korea's Metropolitan Transport Commission (MTC) has launched the ‘Super-Regional Transport Policy Forum’ to develop a new transportation strategy aimed at connecting multiple regions into single living and economic zones. This initiative seeks to move beyond the current metropolitan-centric system to support the ‘5-pole 3-special’ national balanced development policy.

The forum consists of approximately 20 experts from fields including transportation, railways, roads, urban planning, and regional development. The group will analyze regional transportation demand and commuting patterns to determine directions for connecting regional networks, funding methods, and necessary legal or institutional improvements.

Starting with an initial meeting on the 29th, the forum will hold monthly workshops. The MTC aims to release a final version of the super-regional transport strategy by the end of the year, following policy debates in December. The commission plans to coordinate closely with local governments and other central government bodies to ensure the strategy aligns with regional development plans.