Work report of public institutions under the Ministry of Territories, Infrastructure and Transport
Expressway Corporation proposes to establish AI data centers on unused land
Korea Expressway Corporation proposed to the government the idea of integrating a logistics transportation system alongside the construction of underground highways. The government assessed the proposal positively, but stressed that since a concrete design plan for underground highways has not yet been developed, a cautious approach is necessary.
On January 14, Ham Jingyu, chairman of Korea Expressway Corporation, presented the idea of ”establishing a transportation system linked to underground highways” during a work report session for public institutions under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation. He cited the fact that more than 90 percent of domestic freight transportation relies on roads and major cities around the world are building underground transportation systems.
The underground highway plan calls for building tunnels under sections of expressways in the Seoul metropolitan area and other heavily trafficked roads. This would not only help reduce traffic congestion, but also improve the use of urban space and resolve the regional disconnect. The project is continued for chronically congested sections such as the Gyeongin Expressway and the Gyeongbu Expressway areas adjacent to Seoul.
The plan is to allocate a separate space within these underground routes to establish an automated logistics transportation system or to create logistics-only routes using unmanned vehicles. President Ham commented: “In Spain they used the TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) method to build underground highways, but only use half of the underground space,” adding: “Underground highways may become more common in big cities, but we should not follow exactly that path.
With Korea Expressway Corporation at the center, Korean construction companies are continuing their overseas expansion in road construction and operation, and this business model is expected to be competitive internationally. He asked the Ministry of Lands, Infrastructure and Transport to implement this concept as a pilot project during the development of underground highways.
Wooje Lee, director of the Roads Bureau at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, responded to the proposal, saying: “This could improve the safety of road users and would likely be a positive direction for logistics systems where punctuality is crucial. » However, he also noted: “Considering global transport logistics models, it is necessary to thoroughly review specific business methods and models beforehand. »
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation, it has not yet been decided whether the underground expressways will be built more than 50 meters below the surface, similar to the Grand Train Express (GTX) in the Seoul metropolitan area. Deep highway construction would reduce the impact on existing structures and allow for longer, straighter routes. On the other hand, accessibility to underground routes could become more difficult. Differences in usage patterns compared to railways must also be taken into account.
Yoon-duk Kim, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation (center), speaks at the work report of the subordinate agency on the 14th. Provided by the Ministry of Lands, Infrastructure and Transport
Korea Expressway Corporation has also proposed building artificial intelligence (AI) data centers on unused land. President Ham predicted that since optical communications networks are already installed, linking with power generation projects such as solar power and fuel cells could create synergy. He requested institutional support from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, such as legislative amendments.
Director Lee commented: “Since the new government is pursuing a policy of becoming a global power in AI, this seems desirable. ” However, he also pointed out that “the Korea Expressway Corporation currently charges user fees at the private operator level, so it is necessary to determine whether the company can strengthen its public role.”
The Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) proposed the concept of an “energy train,” which would physically transport renewable energy using the rail network. Jeong Jeongrae, Acting President of KORAIL, said, “We will establish the basic framework by April this year,” adding, “It will become a new blue ocean to revitalize railway logistics.” »
On the 31st, as the New Year Bridge holiday approaches, Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport is crowded with travelers. 2025.12.31 Photo by Kang Jinhyung
The Incheon International Airport Corporation has requested that the fifth phase expansion project be included in the 7th comprehensive airport development plan. Incheon Airport completed its fourth phase of expansion in December 2024 and can now accommodate 106 million passengers per year, but it is expected to reach full capacity by 2033. Lee Hakjae, chairman of Incheon International Airport Company, said: “The fifth phase of expansion was not included in the 4th Basic Plan of Aviation Policy, but given that such projects take a lot of time, we need to prepare in advance.
The Korea Airports Corporation argued that airport facility user fees, such as passenger airport user fees and landing fees, should be increased to ensure funding for facility investments aimed at revitalizing regional airports.
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