Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-su: "Government Must Support Regional Metropolitan Rail Networks"

Proposal to Lee Nak-yeon, Chair of the National Crisis Management Committee, at the 'Democratic Party Yeongnam Region Meeting' held on the 16th

The Democratic Party of Korea's COVID-19 National Crisis Overcoming Committee is holding a Yeongnam region meeting at the Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office and taking a commemorative photo. (Photo by Kang Woo-kwon)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kang Woo-kwon] Gyeongsangnam-do announced on the 17th that it held the 'Democratic Party COVID-19 National Crisis Overcoming Committee Yeongnam Region Meeting' on the 16th at the provincial government office's main conference room.

On that day, Governor Kim Kyung-soo emphasized, "To alleviate the concentration in the metropolitan area, at least minimal transportation infrastructure is necessary to establish the basic living and economic zones in the Southeast region that can economically correspond to the metropolitan area."

He added, "While the government constructs and operates the basic metropolitan railway network in the metropolitan area, the operation of newly progressing regional metropolitan railway networks in non-metropolitan areas being burdened on local governments needs to be improved from the perspective of balanced development."

The plan of Gyeongnam Province and Busan City is to introduce electric trains on the Bujeon (Busan) - Masan (Changwon) section, where semi-high-speed trains are scheduled to be completed by the end of this year. This line is also connected to the Donghae Nambu Line (Bujeon - Taehwagang). The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport holds the position that local governments must bear the costs according to the beneficiary pays principle. Currently, 13 metropolitan subway lines in the metropolitan area are constructed by the government and operated by Korail.

Governor Kim said, "In addition to supporting the construction of the metropolitan railway network, we also proposed support for local root industries that have been struggling due to COVID-19, and I hope that the visit of Chairman Lee Nak-yeon and the National Crisis Overcoming Committee will open the way to resolve the Southeast region new airport issue."

In response, Chairman Lee Nak-yeon of the National Crisis Overcoming Committee said, "Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam have led Korea's industrialization with shipbuilding, automobile, and machinery industries, but they have been somewhat contracted compared to the past due to changes in internal and external conditions. We hope that the Korean New Deal and the post-COVID-19 plans such as upgrading core industries will become new opportunities for the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam region, and we will support this."

The meeting was attended by Democratic Party National Crisis Overcoming Committee Chairman Lee Nak-yeon, General Headquarters Chief Jo Jeong-sik, Emergency Economic Measures Headquarters Chief Kim Jin-pyo, Spokesperson Kim Seong-ju, along with Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo, Ulsan Mayor Song Cheol-ho, Acting Busan Mayor Byeon Seong-wan, and National Assembly members from the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam region including Min Hong-chul, Kim Du-kwan, Kim Jeong-ho, and Choi In-ho.

The urgent projects submitted by the province that day included seven items: ▲ Establishment of Gyeongnam-type Smart Green Industrial Complex ▲ Expanded support for large-scale remodeling of industrial complexes linked to the Green New Deal ▲ Designation of special employment support industries due to the crisis in the aviation manufacturing industry ▲ Government support to strengthen competitiveness of small and medium-sized shipyards ▲ Expansion of policy fund support for small and medium-sized enterprise management stabilization ▲ Expansion of the Hope Dream project for small business owners in crisis ▲ Adjustment of preliminary feasibility study targets for New Deal projects.

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