Honam Line

A Honam Railway from Seoul to Mokpo was first proposed in 1896 by a French company.[1] After the start of the Russo-Japanese War, in May 1904, Imperial Japan forced Korea to sign an agreement granting the Japanese military control over railways, including the right to seize land.[1] Japan the seized much of the fertile Honam plain in advance of a planned Honam Line.[1]

The construction of the line started in 1910.[1] The first 39.9 km (24.8 mi) between Daejeon and Yeonsan was opened in July 1911.[1] The line was extended to Ganggyeong in November 1911, to Iri (today Iksan) in March 1912, to Gimje in October 1912 and to Jeongeup in December 1912.[1] Construction continued from the other end of the line, with the section from Mokpo to Hakgyo (today Hampyeong) opened in May 1913; and extended to Naju in July 1913, to Songjeong-ri (today Gwangju·Songjeong) in October 1913, and finally to Jeongeup,[1] completing the line on January 11, 1914.[2]

Major stations and junctions along the line include:

• Daejeon, junction with the Gyeongbu Line to Seoul and Busan;
• Seodaejeon, the Daejeon passenger station for Honam Line trains;
• Iksan (formerly named Iri), the terminus of the Jeolla and Janghang Lines;
• GwangjuSongjeong, the major station in Gwangju for through trains to Mokpo, and the junction with the Gyeongjeon Line;
• Naju, the major station in Naju;
• Mokpo, a seaport on the south coast.

The Honam Line is served by freight trains, as well as cross-country Mugunghwa-ho, intercity ITX-Saemaeul and high-speed KTX passenger trains.

As of October 2010, the minimum travel time from Yongsan Station in Seoul to Mokpo in South Jeolla is a minimum of 4 hours 42 minutes by ITX-Saemaeul and a minimum of 5 hours 2 minutes by Mugunghwa. On the Honam Line itself, from Seodaejeon to Mokpo, travel time is a minimum of 2 hours 51 minutes by ITX-Saemaeul and a minimum of 3 hours 5 minutes by Mugunghwa.[7]

• Transportation in South Korea
• Korail