With China’s annual growth rate having been more than 10% since the opening of its markets, the trade volume between Korea, China, and Japan now accounts for more than 16% of global trade. At this critical juncture, when the traffic in Northeast Asia centering on the Korean Peninsula is dramatically increasing, the possibility of diverse integral transportation systems, such as an undersea tunnel, should be reviewed.

To this end, the Gyeonggi Research Institute hosted an international seminar on “Korea-China Undersea Tunnel Development Plan to Reinforce the Partnership of Northeast Asia” at the International Conference Hall of the Korean Chamber of Commerce on May 14, 2008.

President Jwa Sung-hee of the Gyeonggi Research Institute, which organized the international seminar, said, “As the human traffic between Korea and China exceeds 10,000 persons a day, more than 400 flights are being provided between the two nations each week. Korea and China have many things in common, in a diversity of areas such as economy, culture, and tourism. It is urgent to minimize the economic distance between the two nations through the qualitative development of cooperation. For the Korean Peninsula to utilize its geographical advantages to play a key role in the Northeast Asian economic bloc in the 21st century, the completion of an integral transportation system is more important than anything else. To this end, the Korea-China undersea tunnel will play a pivotal role, as the 21st century’s Silk Road of Northeast Asia.”

During the congratulatory remarks, Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo said, “Korea and China are closely connected to each other, economically, culturally, and historically. The explosive growth of exchange between the two nations now requires the establishment of a forum for exchange and cooperation between the local governments of the Korean west coast and those of the coastal regions of China, such as Shandong and Tianjin.”

Governor Kim added, “Not only the province but also the central government should review the plan to build the undersea tunnel, and research should be continuously conducted for the growth of Korea into a Northeast Asian hub.”

Vice President Cho Eung-rae of the Gyeonggi Research Institute, who delivered the first presentation, “Basic Plan for Korea-China Undersea Tunnel”, provided information on trade between the two nations and other cases of undersea tunnel development.

Vice President Cho expressed her conviction that the Northeast Asian regions will become connected via high-speed railways, accelerating economic integration, when Korea’s high-speed railways, Japan’s Sinkan-sen, and China’s high-speed railway (from Beijing to Shanghai, scheduled to be completed in 2013) are connected through undersea tunnels. The distance from Korea to Beijing via a Korea-China undersea tunnel would be similar to the distance traveling via North Korea, but the distance from Korea to the southern part of China, such as Shandong and Shanghai, would be significantly reduced. He also emphasized that travel by rail through an undersea tunnel is more competitive than an air flight, considering the time required to access the airport, waiting time, and flight time.

To determine possible routes for an undersea tunnel, four alternatives were studied, originating in Yongyeon (Jangsan) of North Korea, Incheon, Pyeongtaek, and Taean. The route will be decided in the future after careful review. 

The deepest point of the undersea tunnel in the West Sea of Korea will be 80m, and the average depth will be 40m, both of which are good depths for undersea tunnel construction. The geographical features of the undersea area were also found to be favorable for tunnel construction. It is expected that the Korea-China undersea tunnel will be built through a method in which bridges, immersed tunnels, and excavation are combined, and the construction costs will be determined by the precise nature of the combination. The construction cost per km will range from approximately KRW 200 billion to KRW 350 billion. Artificial islands will be built at intervals of 25km to 50km for the construction and maintenance of the undersea tunnels. Vice President Cho Eung-rae said, ¡°Large-scale artificial islands will be built in international waters for the Korea-China undersea tunnel. It is worth reviewing a plan to increase demand for the use of the tunnel by building an undersea city, which would include hotels, convention centers, casinos, and marine resort facilities.”

China has agreed on the establishment of the forum for undersea tunnel research, which will consist of experts from the two nations, and will be responsible for in-depth discussions on technology, logistics, economics, and finance in order to narrow down the opinion gap between the two nations about expected passenger and cargo traffic volumes, construction cost estimates, economic ripple effects, and financing methods.

Vice President Cho added, “The global undersea tunnel business has a huge market, with limitless growth potential. It is necessary for us to develop key technologies so that we can actively advance into the undersea tunnel construction market. It is also urgent that we pursue the means of financing the construction of Korea-China undersea tunnel.”

Researcher Lee Hong of the General Transportation Research Institute of the National Development & Reform Commission in China delivered a keynote speech on “Feasibility of the Construction Plan of the Korea-China Undersea Tunnel.” Researcher Lee highlighted, ¡°As the exchanges and cooperation between our two nations are being rapidly expanded, the areas of cooperation are being broadened, from economic exchange to cultural and tourism exchange. We expect that the annual number of visitors between our two nations will soon reach 40 million, and that cargo transportation will reach 0.34 tons a year in 2030. The use of railways to connect our two nations is the best way to meet the rapidly growing logistics demand.”

Professor Huh Jae-wan of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning of Chung-Ang University made a presentation on “Ripple Effects of Korea-China Undersea Tunnel Construction on the Economic Integration of Northeast Asia.” Professor Huh predicted, “Considering that the undersea tunnel connecting two nations cannot be built without military trust, I think that the completion of this tunnel would signify the emergence of a new partnership of Northeast Asia. When the Korea-China undersea tunnel is built, the Pohai Rim Area of China and the West Cost of Korea will enter into a new era of partnership, facilitating the building of a huge production network in the same economic zone.” Professor Huh added, “In order to enhance ripple effects from the construction of a Korea-China undersea tunnel, a tunnel connecting Korea and Japan should be built at the same time.”

The presentations were followed by a panel discussion between Researcher Dong Yen from the General Transportation Research Institute of the National Development & Reform Commission in China, Professor Seong Won-yong from Incheon University, Professor Kim Eui-jun Kim of Seoul National University, Researcher Shin Hi-soon from the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, and Professor Chung Chang-mu of Seoul National University.