You know, with major ports on the West Sea coast like Incheon, Pyeongtaek, Gunsan and Mokpo, I don’t see why we need 4,000-ton freighters sailing into Yongsan. Nevertheless:
The construction of an 18-kilometer-long, 80-meter-wide canal linking the Han River, in Seoul, and the West Sea, will start in March. A total of 2.25 trillion won (about $2 billion) will be earmarked from the national budget. The plan envisions a route for 4,000-ton freighters and ferry services connecting Yongsan, central Seoul, with Chinese ports by 2012.
According to the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs, the plan has been finalized after a 10-year delay due to concerns on its economic viability and environmental impact.
A government official said the canal is expected to ease severe congestion on land routes between metropolitan areas and Incheon, a key port on the West Sea. The route is projected to start near Gaewha-dong, Gangseo-gu, western Seoul, near the Han River, and follow a parallel route along the expressway leading to Incheon International Airport.
The plan was finalized after the Korea Development Institute (KDI) concluded in a recent survey that the canal would be economically viable, with its benefit-to-cost ratio calculated at 1.07, lower than another government-sponsored survey by a Dutch firm that showed it to be 1.76, but economically viable.
The Hankyoreh, needless to say, thinks this is LMB’s way of sneaking the “Grand Canal” through the back door — I don’t know if Scott Burgeson read the Hani editorial before posting his comment on the KT or it’s simply life (or at least the Hani) imitating satire. I’m not sure what Lee has in mind, exactly, but he does seem to have a rather queer fascination with waterways.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Yeah… At a time when most Koreans are freaking out about the economy and leaning solidly socialist, let’s build a canal to welcome our Chinese overlords. Suzerainty, hey, it wasn’t so bad last time was it?
“Seoul-Incheon Canal Construction to Start in March.” What a load of horseshit — look on Google Earth and you’ll see that the canal is 3/4 done, as it has been since a moratorium on its construction was called for a few years ago. This is nothing new, they’re just finishing something that’s been under construction for years. Why the Times is saying it’s ’starting’ is either for political reasons or because of their incompetence. Either option is likely, though I’d imagine the latter is more likely.
Can’t seem to find Burgeson’s comment on kt… Can someone post the link? (I’m so excited to read what he has to say!)
Isn’t it already connected to the west sea!!
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