Korean Job Discussion Forums

[garykasparov]

http://english.gg.go.kr/board/viewToday.jsp?lm=01&seq=706

TITLE Underwater tunnel to China being reviewed
DATE 2008/02/18



Source: Korea.net

Gyeonggi-do (province) has begun feasibility studies on building a mammoth underwater tunnel connecting Korea to China, a province official said Sunday (Feb/ 17).

Lee Han-joon, a chief policy advisor to the province, said in a conference held aboard a ferry heading from Pyeongtaek in Korea's Gyeonggi-do to Rongchen, China, that a detailed review on the engineering that would be involved in the construction is being reviewed.

In addition, the overall cost and time required to complete the task are being examined, he said, adding that the benefits that can be derived from the ambitious project will receive key attention.

"This project requires long-term political and diplomatic planning on the part of the governments of Korea and China, with Gyeonggi-do offering a reference point by conducting the review," Lee said.

Pyeongtaek, located 70 kilometers south of Seoul, is a port being developed as the new logistics hub of central Korea.

Lee said that while the total length of the underwater tunnel connecting Pyeongtaek with Weihei on the Shandong Peninsula would be 375 kilometers, the average depth of the Yellow Sea along the length on the planned tunnel is about 40 meters, with its deepest point reaching 73 meters, making the construction of the tunnel possible from an engineering standpoint.

The engineer then said that Korea and China could build man-made islands near their shores that could be connected to their respective mainlands by bridge, with the remainder of the project being built by linking tunnels and more man-made islands.

Lee said that smaller-sized islands placed every 25 kilometers apart could be used as emergency exits for evacuating users in case of unforeseen developments, while a larger island located midway in the tunnel could be used as a new tourist attraction.

In addition, the official said some Chinese think tanks are conducting their own separate feasibility study on the plan.

Related to this, Gyeonggi-do Governor Kim Moon-soo said that with China's emergence as an economic power, an underwater tunnel linking the two countries would be of considerable value.

However, he said that at present, the project is nothing more than a long-term plan that needs a lot of work.

[pkang0202]

Would cost more to drive there than it would to fly.

[articulate_ink]

I just read an article about a proposal for a tunnel between Kyushu in Japan and southern Korea. It would be interesting if both were constructed, although I won't be holding my breath waiting for it to happen.

[jetrash]

they sure are desperate to connect with somewhere these days as their economy goes to hell.
HUB us please...virtual/digital/bridge/tunnel/flying pig...anything,please!!

i thought north korea was gonna come in from the cold,and you could just drive north to china from seoul??
looks like thats on hold then.


think the koreans are starting to realise the action is elsewhere,huh.


why dont they build a VIRTUAL CANAL to china thu the west sea...a world first.

[Cheonmunka]

It's no loss to the Yellow sea's water quality. The project won't wreck the environment anymore than it is already doomed.

[RACETRAITOR]

An underwater tunnel to Kyushu would be great because the Japanese really want a mainland connection. An underwater tunnel to China would be basically gambling that North Korea will always be off-limits. If they complete it and then Kim Jongil dies and the country collapses, they'll have wasted a lot of money.

[jetrash]

what about a massive tunnel connecting JAPAN to CHINA, bypassing korea?

or is that too cruel?







(bet the chinese n japanese would prefer it.)

[seoulsucker]

Well, a tunnel from Japan to S. Korea would essentially be joining two islands, considering the virtual lack of traffic through the 38th.

[endo]

[Milwaukiedave]

The tunnel is about as good an idea as the Grand Canal. Both would be a big waste of money.

[mithridates]

The tunnel to Japan is a much better idea than this one, and way closer too. It's not a new idea though; I saw ads for it in 2001 in Japan. The only thing it needs is goodwill from both sides, and luckily right now the leaders of the two countries seem to be interested in furthering diplomacy so maybe the idea will come up again.

[cbclark4]

I like the idea though I think it's about time this country look into developing Jeolla province in some fashion.

I think this tunnel should connect to somewhere in Jeolla.

For some reason Jeolla is left out when economic development is in progress.

I think that is one of the reason you see a lot of protests in Gwangju.

Even the KTX doesn't stop in Gwangju it's ripe for another uprising.

I could see it happening if they are overlooked for the tunnel site.

[Ya-ta Boy]

I see this as a diplomatic ploy to bring pressure on North Korea. If something like this were to happen, NK would be a backwater until teleporting is invented and perfected, i.e., next door to Never.

I'm a little concerned with the idea of a tunnel to Japan. While it would potentially link Tokyo and London, wouldn't the possibility of an earthquake make it extremely iffy?

[Ya-ta Boy]

[cbclark4]