Over 2.3 Million Signatures Collected for Hosting the 'Bangsa-gwang Accelerator' in the Honam Region

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The ‘Committee for Hosting the Synchrotron Radiation Accelerator in the Honam Region’ held a nationwide public report meeting in front of the National Assembly main building on the 27th, attended by 75 members of related organizations, announcing that the nationwide signature campaign surpassed 2.3 million signatures and delivering an appeal urging the government and the National Assembly to establish the synchrotron radiation accelerator in the Honam region.

On this day, the hosting committee included participation from 100 organizations across various sectors, including civil society groups from Jeonnam, Jeonbuk, and Gwangju, university student councils, hometown associations in Seoul, and regional media councils.

In the appeal, the hosting committee stated, “The nationwide signatures, embodying the wishes of 6 million Honam residents and the public’s desire for balanced national development, have surpassed 2.3 million,” and emphasized the necessity of establishing the synchrotron radiation accelerator in Honam by saying, “If Honam cannot reverse the current declining trend, there is no hope for the future.”

They continued, “The research capacity of Honam, which ranks at the bottom nationwide in terms of national R&D project share, must be improved,” and added, “If the synchrotron radiation accelerator is hosted, Honam’s innovative industries such as Jeonnam’s energy and bio industries, Gwangju’s AI and automotive industries, and Jeonbuk’s carbon and agricultural life industries will make great leaps forward, enabling Honam to contribute to the development of the nation’s new growth industries,” and earnestly appealed, “To resolve the concentration of national large-scale research facilities in Chungcheong and Yeongnam regions and achieve balanced national development, the synchrotron radiation accelerator must be established in the Honam region.”

Lee Minwon (Gwangju University professor), executive director of the hosting committee, said, “Strengthening regional research capabilities is essential for a higher level leap in national scientific competitiveness and sustainable innovation,” and added, “We earnestly ask for the establishment of the synchrotron radiation accelerator in the Honam region in accordance with the public’s wishes confirmed by the nationwide signature campaign surpassing 2.3 million.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.