Uiwang City Council Urges Resolution on Gyeonggi Province Private Road Toll Increase

Councilman Kim Tae-hung of Uiwang City Council urged the city to take active countermeasures on the 8th regarding the toll increase on the Seo-Suwon~Uiwang Expressway.

Councilman Kim made the assertion during a five-minute free speech session at the 1st regular session of the 322nd temporary meeting of Uiwang City Council held that day.

Councilman Kim pointed out that this is "a second increase in just two years following 2024," adding that "the selective increase in freight vehicle tolls will lead to higher logistics costs for construction material transportation and businesses and small merchants within Uiwang City, which has many redevelopment and reconstruction projects, ultimately causing increased burden on citizens and rising regional prices."

On August 20, Gyeonggi Province submitted to the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly an agenda regarding "hearing opinions from the provincial assembly on private road toll increases" containing a toll increase plan. If the agenda is passed, tolls for Class 4 and Class 5 large freight vehicles will increase by 100 won from the existing 1,300 won to 1,400 won and are scheduled to take effect from October 1.

Councilman Kim then urged Mayor Kim Sung-je to actively implement the campaign promise of "promoting toll-free passage at Uiwang Toll Plaza for Uiwang citizens" made during the 2022 election. Councilman Kim emphasized that "for the 1.6 million Uiwang citizens who placed their trust and made their choice based on the promise, a concrete implementation system such as organizing a mayor-led task force should be prepared immediately."

In particular, Councilman Kim cited the example of Gimpo City, which supports 50 percent of tolls during rush hours through its own ordinance, and proposed that Uiwang City also promptly review the 'Uiwang City Seo-Suwon~Uiwang Expressway Toll Support Ordinance' and embark on phased implementation including toll support during rush hours.

Councilman Kim urged that "going forward, Uiwang citizens will bear the burden of continuously increasing tolls, and this is a matter concerning basic transportation rights," adding "Uiwang City must make a decisive commitment to reduce the burden on Uiwang citizens."