Korean Job Discussion Forums

[wylies99]

Korea-Japan Tunnel Finally in Sight

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200902/200902210001.html

After almost 30 years of discussions, plans to create an undersea tunnel linking Korea and Japan are beginning to materialize. A research group from both countries agreed on Jan. 8 to form a committee to draw up a specific construction plan. Huh Moon-do, the head of the committee, said the tunnel would not only speed up economic consolidation in Northeast Asia but "also play a key role in pursuing bilateral free trade talks" that are currently stalled.
The route is still being reviewed, but it is almost certain that it will begin in Karatsu, a city in Saga Prefecture of northwestern Japan. As the starting point of the Korean side of the tunnel, Geoje Island is highly likely. Due to technical considerations, the Japanese view the Geoje Island route as the best option. If Karatsu and Geoje are linked, the undersea tunnel will stretch for 209 km (145 km under the ocean), making it the longest in the world.

The biggest obstacle is economic feasibility. Construction costs alone will be 10 trillion yen by the Japanese estimate, while Korea estimates it will have to spend almost W200 trillion (US$1=W1,506). A study by Japan, which is more active about pursuing the project, showed the tunnel would not be economically feasible. The result was the same in a study conducted by Korea.

But the committee as well as members of the research group say it is wrong to gauge economic feasibility based only on construction costs and advantages. Japanese members of the joint research group say the tunnel is very feasible economically if effects including job creation and its ability to revive the construction industry are included.

The group says Korea would see a W13 trillion boost to its construction industry, while Japan would gain W18 trillion. Considering the industrial effects of the project, the group forecast that Korea would see economic benefits worth W54 trillion and Japan W88 trillion.

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[sojusucks]

If one ignores the discord that most Koreans have towards the Japanese, then this is a great idea. This has the potential to boost both countries economies, which of course depends upon any trade deals struck between the two countries and of course assumming that shipping goods via trucks is cheaper than by ship.

[Thedudeabides]

[VanIslander]

i told you guys about this back in 2003 or 2004

it was a done deal a long time ago, it's just the timing that was bad as it was unpopular with Koreans due to antiJapanese sentiment and historical grievances and Korean politicians were shy to officially finalize it

when i lived on Geoje Island many of the locals knew about it in detail

that is part of the reason there's a bridge halfconstructed right now between Geoje Island and Busan... it's part of the same grand vision, of linking Japan and Europe thru Geoje and Busan

i stated back then that property values on Geoje are only going to rise rise rise and they have already increased enormously in just the last five years

btw.. on a clear day you can see Japan from Geoje Island

[justaguy]

I think it's a great idea. It would be a massive undertaking but I think both the Koreans and the Japanese have to know how to build it.

I have long been impressed with their tunneling and stone cutting skills. It would be very good for both economies

[Chet Wautlands]

[crsandus]

[VanIslander]

[Demonicat]

I don't think that's being dense to wonder how Japan will connect to Europe via rail. Connecting through N. Korea seems like a rough, poorly thought out plan- politics aside. Rails would have to go through countless mountains and then Siberia. In addition, the de-icing costs would be horrendous. The smart way, by rail, would be to connect Seoul to Qingdao (China), then connect to the Chinese railways.

[bjonothan]

[Konglishman]

Last year, a Korean friend of mine was doing a presentation on this project for one of his engineering classes. He showed me it and we talked at great length about it.

As far as connecting to Europe, it might be easier if Japan were to simply connect to Russia via a underwater going from Hokkaido to Sakhalin.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakhalin-Hokkaido_Tunnel

I still think the Japan-Korea Tunnel is good idea though. But it seems to me that for the Japanese, it make more sense to first cooperate with the Russians and build the Sakhalin-Hokkaido Tunnel.

[Ukon]

Few know the Trans Siberian railway goes to to Pyongyang. And yes, it's possible to take it:

http://www.railroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25865

Some dudes who took the train from Europe all the way to Pyongyang....it apparently caused a ruckus in the North when they came....I guess it's just for Russians and former soviet block citizens.

It's too bad they can't strike a deal with North Korea to allow it to reach Seoul.

COMPLETE travel log with links

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=728480

[hugekebab]

I know a guy who took the train to Korea from the UK. He said that getting through Russia took ages (over a week) because of the bureaucratic stuff. He also said some right sketchy characters were on the train, but that's another story...

If they really want to connect Europe to Japan that will actually be of any use they will need more than one line, and they would also need multilateral agreements for a right of passage which I could see taking longer to obtain than actually building the bloody thing.

[caniff]

Hopefully there will be a pedestrian lane so English teachers can walk over and find out for themselves whether Japan is better than Korea. It'll save the bandwidth here on Dave's.

[Underwaterbob]

I can't imagine Korean drivers all of a sudden having to drive on the left.