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South Korea’s tram revival is no single national rollout. Seoul is preparing to test its Wirye Line in 2026, Daejeon is building a circular tram network, Ulsan is still describing a proposed four-line system, and Hwaseong’s Dongtan tram remains in re-procurement after failed tenders. The projects differ most in delivery stage, procurement certainty and propulsion technology—not simply in route length.
The four projects at a glance
| City and project | Current stage | Scale | Key date or status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul Wirye Line | Testing preparation | 5.4 km, 12 stations, 10 trainsets | Testing sequence planned during 2026 |
| Daejeon Metro Line 2 | Active construction | 33.9 km circular route | Construction began December 2024; civil work underway in all 14 sections by September 2025 |
| Ulsan proposed tram network | Planning concept | Four lines, 48.19 km and 52 stations in total | Official page lists concept costs in 2016 prices and shows no construction start |
| Hwaseong Dongtan tram | Re-procurement | 34.4 km, 36 stations | December 2028 completion target, subject to successful contracting |
Seoul: the closest project to passenger service
What the Wirye Line includes
The Wirye Line is Korea’s first catenary-free tram. Its 5.4-kilometre route has 12 stations and will use 10 trainsets. Removing overhead wires is a defining feature of the project, allowing the line to operate without conventional catenary equipment along the route.
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What happens in 2026
Seoul’s published sequence moves from preliminary trials to mainline trials and then comprehensive railway testing during 2026. Those are commissioning and safety stages, not proof that regular passengers will board on a particular date.
When will trams return to Seoul?
The Seoul Metropolitan Government said on January 28, 2026: “The tram, a rail-based carrier, will be reintroduced to Seoul citizens after 58 years.” The Wirye Line is therefore the city’s nearest tram project to operation, but the cited releases describe testing and planned operating procedures rather than a confirmed revenue-service opening date. A testing milestone should not be reported as the start of passenger service.
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Daejeon: construction is moving from plans to a network
Construction progress
Daejeon Metro Line 2 is a 33.9-kilometre circular tram project within a 2014–2028 program period. The city records construction commencement in December 2024. By September 2025, civil works had started across all 14 sections, giving Daejeon the clearest active-construction position among the four cases.
The latest published budget
Daejeon Metropolitan City’s 2026 cost table lists a total of KRW 14,837 hundred million, or KRW 1.4837 trillion. The table divides that amount between national and city funding:
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →| Funding source | 2026 amount |
|---|---|
| National funding | KRW 8,284 hundred million (KRW 828.4 billion) |
| Daejeon Metropolitan City funding | KRW 6,553 hundred million (KRW 655.3 billion) |
| Total | KRW 14,837 hundred million (KRW 1.4837 trillion) |
This is the latest published 2026 figure; earlier project budgets changed materially, so older totals should not be substituted for the current table.
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Hydrogen-tram connection
Hyundai Rotem’s 2024 sustainability report identifies hydrogen trams as being adopted in Daejeon and Ulsan. That establishes the technology association, but it does not by itself provide a separate operating date, fleet size or line-by-line deployment schedule for Daejeon Metro Line 2.
Ulsan: a defined network concept without a construction start
The four proposed corridors
| Line | Corridor | Length | Stations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Line 1 | Taehwagang Station–Sinbok Rotary | 11.63 km | 15 |
| Line 2 | Officially listed as a second proposed corridor | 13.63 km | 14 |
| Line 3 | Officially listed as a third proposed corridor | 16.99 km | 15 |
| Line 4 | Officially listed as a fourth proposed corridor | 5.94 km | 8 |
Adding the official line entries produces a 48.19-kilometre, 52-station concept network. Ulsan’s page presents these as proposed tram corridors, not as four lines under construction.
Why the cost figures need care
The listed costs are based on 2016 estimates. They should not be presented as current won requirements because construction prices, design assumptions and financing conditions may have changed. The same page does not show a construction start, so the network remains at the planning-description stage in the available record.
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Hydrogen plans versus delivery status
Ulsan is associated with hydrogen-tram adoption in Hyundai Rotem’s 2024 sustainability report. That propulsion ambition is separate from proof that civil works, vehicle procurement or passenger operations have begun.
Hwaseong’s Dongtan tram: a target constrained by procurement
Project size and target
Hwaseong’s Dongtan tram is planned as a 34.4-kilometre system with 36 stations. Project materials set a December 2028 completion target.
What delayed the schedule
Repeated 2025 tenders failed: some received no bids and others failed after only one bid. Hwaseong moved toward negotiated contracting and resumed procurement work in 2026. A 2025 council report says the delay in selecting construction companies prevented planned spending and that construction was expected to begin after a successful procurement.
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How to read the December 2028 date
December 2028 is a target, not a guaranteed opening. Until contracting succeeds and construction starts, the date remains exposed to another procurement delay, revised packaging of the works or changes in project execution.
Why the cities are moving at different speeds
| Comparison | Seoul | Daejeon | Ulsan | Hwaseong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delivery stage | 2026 testing preparation | Construction in all 14 civil sections | Planned network description | Re-procurement after tender failures |
| Main execution issue | Complete testing before revenue service | Manage a large, funded construction program | Move from concept and dated estimates to an executable project | Secure a successful construction contract |
| Funding or procurement signal | Testing plan published | 2026 budget table totals KRW 1.4837 trillion | Costs shown in 2016 prices; no start shown | Failed 2025 tenders delayed spending and works |
| Propulsion context | Catenary-free tram | Hydrogen-tram adoption identified in a 2024 industry sustainability report | Hydrogen-tram adoption identified in the same report | Propulsion details are not established in the cited project materials |
Delivery stage matters more than headline length
Seoul’s short line is nearest to passengers because it is entering testing. Daejeon’s longer route is further along physically because every civil section had begun work by September 2025. Ulsan has the most extensive stated concept network but no recorded construction start. Hwaseong has a defined route and completion target, yet contracting remains the immediate gate.
Procurement can outweigh engineering readiness
Hwaseong demonstrates how a project can have a route, station count and target year while still losing time before construction. Daejeon’s progress reflects a different risk position: the city has moved into section-by-section civil works and published a current funding split. Ulsan’s older cost basis means even a future approval would require updated estimates.
Propulsion is not the same as project maturity
Seoul’s catenary-free design is a specific infrastructure choice that can be assessed during testing. Hydrogen-tram references for Daejeon and Ulsan describe technology adoption, but they do not replace evidence of track construction, vehicle delivery or service commencement.
Quick Recap
What to watch next
- Seoul: completion of preliminary, mainline and comprehensive railway tests, followed by an officially confirmed revenue-service date.
- Daejeon: continued work across the 14 civil sections and updates to the 2026 funding and total-cost position.
- Ulsan: a formal decision that advances the four-line concept, updates the 2016-price estimates and identifies a construction start.
- Hwaseong: a successful negotiated or competitive contract, actual commencement of construction and any revision to the December 2028 target.
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