[Interview] Rep. An Ho-young, "I Will Achieve the Development of Wanjinmu Jang with My Own Hands!"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Gominhyeong] The term of the 21st National Assembly is just 3 days away.

Although it was considered a fiercely contested area, we visited An Ho-young, a re-elected member of the National Assembly from Wanjin-Mujang (photo), who ultimately raised the victory toast, to hear about the election process, pledges, and future legislative activities.

The following is a Q&A with Representative An.

▲ You succeeded in being re-elected. What are your thoughts for the voters and the residents of Jeonbuk...

First of all, I sincerely thank the residents of Wanju, Jinan, Muju, and Jangsu counties who elected me as a re-elected member of the ruling party through the April 15 general election.

I also express my gratitude to the residents of Jeonbuk who gave full support to the Moon Jae-in administration and our party.

I will cherish the opportunity given by the residents and work hard in the 21st National Assembly to open a more prosperous era for Wanjin-Mujang and Jeonbuk, and contribute to the success of the Moon Jae-in administration and the re-establishment of the Democratic Party government.

▲ The electoral district is wide, and with the COVID-19 situation overlapping, I thought it was a very difficult election...

Even though it was my second election, honestly, it was not easy. As you know, the Wanjin-Mujang constituency covers about one-third of Jeonbuk. Moreover, due to COVID-19, election campaigns in places where many people gather were significantly restrained.

Therefore, I had no choice but to focus on one-on-one meetings or small group interviews for campaigning. This inevitably limited meeting residents and visiting many places.

My support rate in this election was 56.9%, and I am grateful to the residents who gave me such support despite many difficulties.

▲ This general election was a landslide victory for the Democratic Party not only in Jeonbuk but nationwide. What do you think was the driving force behind the Democratic Party's victory, including your re-election?

In the 20th general election, the residents sharply reprimanded the Democratic Party. Therefore, only I and Representative Lee Chun-seok in Iksan Gap were elected in Jeonbuk.

However, four years later, Jeonbuk won 9 seats, and nationwide, 163 constituency seats, with about 180 seats for the progressive bloc.

I believe the fact that I was elected as a re-elected member of the ruling party and the Democratic Party's victory in just four years was the result of two major factors combined.

First, voters judged that since I demonstrated capability through the 20th National Assembly activities, electing me as a re-elected member of the ruling party would make Wanjin-Mujang more prosperous.

Second, the Moon Jae-in administration, which is responding well to national disasters like COVID-19 and building a prosperous Korea for all, must have the Democratic Party win overwhelmingly. I think the voters' sentiment in this election was 'overcoming national crisis' and 'judging the opposition party.'

▲ Recently, a former Wanju county council member and regional office secretary raised allegations.

Yes. I understand that person raised several allegations, but they are all personal claims that are not true. It is absolutely not true that I received money or gifts from supervised institutions or distributed gifts during holidays.

Also, I never requested personnel appointments to any disability association. Regarding the operation of a similar election office during the 20th National Assembly election, it was concluded by the Supreme Court ruling in early 2017.

Unilateral claims without substantive evidence are clear false information dissemination and serious defamation.

Especially, that person served as the secretary and liaison officer of the Democratic Party's Wanjin-Mujang regional office but actively led the election campaign for my competitor in the Democratic Party primary and for an independent candidate in the general election.

Therefore, many people doubt the sincerity and reliability of that person's claims and do not accept them.

▲ Although a lawmaker's basic duties include legislation, budget, and checking the executive branch, they are also workers who should lead regional development. What is the biggest issue in the Wanjin-Mujang area currently, and what is your plan to solve it in the 21st National Assembly?

I think it is the risk of local extinction due to population decline. As you know, Jeonbuk's local extinction risk index increased from 0.72 in 2013 to 0.53 in 2019, and among 14 cities and counties, 11 except Jeonju, Gunsan, and Iksan are included in extinction risk areas.

To respond to rural population decline like this, it is time to shift government policy direction to include adaptation policies focused on low birth rates and special account funding support.

In other words, a fundamental reorganization integrating low birth rate and aging policies with local extinction prevention or regional balanced development policies is necessary.

Therefore, I announced 'activation of inter-ministerial cooperative projects for special support for population decline areas' as one of my five major pledges and plan to actively promote it in the 21st National Assembly.

First, as the first step, revise the 'National Balanced Development Act' to significantly strengthen the local extinction response section, which is currently omitted in regional balanced development policies.

Second, enact the 'Special Act on Prevention of Local Extinction and Revitalization of Population Decline Areas' to establish a legal basis for independent local extinction prevention policies. This will integrate projects from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of SMEs and Startups, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, etc., and later select population decline areas and risk areas to systematize various government supports such as administration, finance, and taxation.

▲ You promised to enact the 'Special Act on Illegal Waste Management and Support by the State' as your first legislative bill upon re-election. Could you explain the main points of the bill?

To overcome the limitations of waste management such as environmental problems caused by the waste business site in Bibong-myeon, Wanju-gun, securing waste disposal sites is urgent.

However, the lack of private waste disposal facilities acts as an obstacle to the stable collection or disposal of waste at places like Wanju Boeun landfill or Iksan Nangsang, increasing the risk of resident damage and environmental pollution.

Therefore, I intended to promote the enactment of the 'Special Act on Illegal Waste Management and Support by the State' in the 21st National Assembly, but recently, at the last plenary session of the 20th National Assembly, the 'Special Act on Safe Management of Waste Resources and Resident Support' proposed by Representative Im I-ja was passed.

Based on the newly passed law, I will strive to ensure the installation of management facilities for illegal waste and resident support measures, and if there are deficiencies in the law, I will push for amendments.

Besides the law, solving urgent matters first is also important, so I plan to continue efforts to secure necessary national budgets, like securing 700 million won in special grants at the end of last year.

▲ Wanjin-Mujang is a complex electoral district, so it seems difficult to solve urgent issues and create new growth engines in each area. You proposed building a hydrogen economy specialized cluster in Wanju-gun. What does it entail?

As you know well, hydrogen, along with carbon fiber, is a future food source that will change the framework of Jeonbuk's economy.

Therefore, in the 21st general election, I announced as my first pledge a plan to build a 'hydrogen economy innovation growth cluster' in Wanju-gun to make it Korea's number one hydrogen economy hub.

This means creating a cluster by linking local R&D institutions such as the Hyundai Motor Jeonju plant in the Wanju Industrial Complex, Techno Valley, and Jeonbuk Research and Development Special Zone.

First, I will form a hydrogen policy tripartite council of labor, management, and government, and establish a hydrogen commercial vehicle mass production system early on all lines of the Hyundai Motor Jeonju plant to lead the designation of Wanju-gun as a hydrogen economy specialized national industrial complex.

Also, before the hydrogen commercial vehicle mass production system, I promised to proactively respond to employment crises of primary and subcontractors of commercial vehicles, and after the election, Wanju-gun, Iksan-si, and Gimje-si jointly won a Ministry of Employment and Labor public contest project. This can be called the first fulfillment of my pledge.

Later, I plan to promote the designation of a hydrogen economy specialized national industrial complex and the establishment of a hydrogen integrated operation center.

▲ What is the blueprint for the eastern inland area of Jeonbuk, including Jinan, Muju, and Jangsu, which is relatively slower in development compared to the southwestern region like Gunsan?

Centering on Jinan, Muju, and Jangsu counties, linked with Wanju-gun, I aim to develop new tourism resources such as long-distance trekking courses utilizing forest, historical culture, ecology, and healing tourism resources, making it a representative forest, healing, and tourism city in Korea for one or two-day stays.

In Wanju-gun, I will promote a premium pilgrimage trail connecting six northern myeon (Dwejae~Baekseok~Sucheong~Hwaamsa~Sonong Church~Gosan Hyanggyo~Gosan Cathedral~Cheonho Holy Site), in Jinan-gun, plateau trails, healing forest trails, natural scenery trails, Yongdamho Lake trails, and Masil trails, in Muju-gun, Raje Tongmun~Gucheon-dong old road and Deogyusan trails, and in Jangsu-gun, Gaya relic historical cultural trails and forest leisure sports trails.

Also, I will focus on developing and nurturing various tourism resources. In Jinan-gun, I will establish a basic plan for a healing agriculture and healing tourism complex connecting the Red Ginseng Oriental Medicine Town and Maisan, along with a Shingwangjae area complex resort. In Muju-gun, to create Korea's representative cultural brand Taekwondo City, I will concentrate Taekwondo-related institutions, establish a Taekwondo graduate school, conduct feasibility studies for a Taekwondo memorial park, and promote the tourist attraction of Jeoksang Fortress. In Jangsu-gun, I plan to build a Gaya Kingdom hologram theme park and Baekdudaegan Yuksipryeong mountain garden, Korea's first mountain-type garden.

Forest, healing, and tourism, along with the hydrogen economy, are sustainable future food sources for Wanjin-Mujang. I will implement tourism pledges conceived through consultations and opinion gathering with local leaders and residents to take responsibility for Wanjin-Mujang's future.

▲ Lastly, as you prepare to start your legislative activities next week, what would you like to say to the local residents?

Respected residents of Wanju, Jinan, Muju, and Jangsu counties, and the people of Jeonbuk, I once again thank you for your overwhelming support in this general election.

In line with your high support and expectations, I will open a more prosperous Wanjin-Mujang and a successful era for Jeonbuk with an attitude of infinite sincerity.

I will serve the residents with humility and a low profile. Please always send your support and candid advice. Thank you.

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