Gwangju Metro

Overview

Locale

Gwangju, South Korea

Transit type

Rapid transit

Number of lines

Number of stations

Operation

Began operation

28 April 2004

Operator(s)

Gwangju Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation

Technical

System length

20.1 km (12.5 mi)

Track gauge

1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in)

System map

Gwangju Metro
Hangul	광주 도시 철도
Hanja	光州都市鐵道

Gwangju Metro (Hangul: 광주 도시철도; hanja: 光州都市鐵道) is the rapid transit system of Gwangju, South Korea, operated by the Gwangju Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation (GRTC, or Gwangju Metro). The subway network first opened in 2004 with 14 stations. The Gwangju Metro consists of one line, serving 20 operational stations, and operating on 20.1 kilometres (12.5 mi) of route.

History

Apr 28, 2004 : Line 1 partially opened ( Nokdong <--> Sangmu )
Apr 11, 2008 : Line 1 fully opened ( Nokdong <-> Pyeongdong )

Lines

Line Name English	Line Name Hangul	Starting Station(s)	Ending Station(s)	Stations	Total Length in km

Line 1	1호선	Nokdong	Pyeongdong	20	20.6

Line 1

Main article: Gwangju Metro Line 1

As of 2012 Line 1 consists of twenty stations. The section between Sotae and Nokdong operates as a separate shuttle.^[1]

Expansions and plans

Plan to extend Line 1

The Gwangju City Government has a plan to extend the current Line 1 southward to Hwasun and northward to Naju. Recently, the Presidential Committee on Balanced National Development promised to include the Line 1 extension in its '5+2 extensive economic zone' project.^[2]

Plan of lines

The original plan of Line 2 was a circle type, but recently the Gwangju City Government suggested to consider a so-called 'South-North type' as well. Now the Gwangju City Government is holding a public hearing.^[3]

Route of Circle Line (Plan 1) : Baegun-gwangjang (백운광장) - Namgwangju Station (남광주역) - Gwangju Station (광주역) - Terminal (터미널) - Market (시청) - Sangmu (상무) - Baegun-gwangjang (백운광장) - Hyocheon Station (효천역) (27.4 km)
Route of South-North Line (Plan 2) : Hyocheon Station (효천역) - Baegun-gwangjang (백운광장) - Namgwangju Station (남광주역) - Chosun University (조선대) - Gwangju Station (광주역) - Chonnam National University (전남대) - Ilgongno (일곡로) - Bonchon-gongeopdanji (본촌공업단지) - Cheomdan-jigu (첨단지구) (24.58 km)