Namhae’s Transportation Revolution: What You Need to Know About the Upcoming Highway and Railway Projects

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Namhae County in South Gyeongsang Province said County Chief Jang Chung-nam visited the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on March 16 to press for progress on key local transportation projects.

His requests included realigning National Route 5, fast-tracking construction of the Samdong–Changseon segment of National Route 3, and adding a Daejeon–Namhae rail line to the Fifth National Railway Network Plan.

The proposed realignment of National Route 5 would extend the route’s starting point from Susan-ri in Changseon-myeon to Seosang-ri in Seo-myeon — the planned connection point for the Namhae–Yeosu undersea tunnel — ahead of the tunnel’s opening. Officials expect traffic to Namhae to surge after the tunnel opens, but the current national highway network is fragmented and includes detours that could create significant inefficiencies.

Fast-tracking the Samdong–Changseon highway project would widen the narrow, winding existing road from two lanes to four to prepare for rising tourist numbers and greater traffic. Rising project costs have delayed the plan while authorities reassess its feasibility.

Namhae currently lacks a rail connection, which limits accessibility from the Seoul metropolitan area. Establishing a Daejeon–Namhae rail line would bolster the South Coast tourism corridor and support more balanced regional development.

Jang said, “With the undersea tunnel set to open, we can no longer delay linking Namhae’s transport system to the national trunk network. Realigning and widening national routes and building a rail network are national-level projects necessary to complete the South Coast’s regional economic zone.” He added, “If the government takes an active role in building the South Coast transport network, it will complete the tourism belt and advance balanced national development.”