Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok Requests Support for Current Issues from Democratic Party Leader Lee Nak-yeon

5 Key Issues, 3 Core Laws, and 15 National Budget Items for Next Year

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, held a meeting with Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, to request support for regional issues.

According to Jeonnam Province on the 19th, Governor Kim explained and requested cooperation and support from Leader Lee on five key issues and three core laws, including ▲promotion of Jeonnam-type win-win jobs under the Green New Deal (offshore wind power complex) ▲establishment of Jeonnam National Medical University ▲enactment of the “Korea Energy Technology University Act” ▲enactment of the “Special Act on Support for Areas at Risk of Local Extinction” ▲enactment of the “Yeosu-Suncheon 10·19 Incident Special Act.”

Along with this, Governor Kim also requested next year’s national budget support for 15 projects in the SOC and future strategic industry sectors that require national funding during the National Assembly review process, including ▲installation of the National Cerebrovascular Center ▲construction of the Gyeongjeon Line high-speed railway ▲support for the 2023 Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo ▲extension of Muan International Airport runway ▲construction of a bio-health convergence knowledge industry center.

Governor Kim said, “The large-scale offshore wind power complex, a long-cherished dream of Jeonnam, is a representative project of the government’s Green New Deal and the largest single offshore wind power complex, with a total investment of 48 trillion won to nurture 450 companies and create 120,000 win-win jobs.” He added, “To establish the complex, we ask for the government’s proactive investment in joint transmission and distribution connection facilities, early construction of support piers and hinterland complexes with exemption from preliminary feasibility studies, and active support for the establishment of the Offshore Wind Power Development Support Headquarters to comprehensively handle permits from various ministries.”

He continued, “Jeonnam has many medically vulnerable areas such as islands, but it is the only region nationwide without a medical school and a tertiary general hospital that can train medical personnel, making it difficult for local residents to receive medical services.” He said, “Considering Jeonnam Province’s poor medical conditions and the aspirations of 2 million residents that have continued for over 30 years, the government and the medical community should promptly form a medical-government consultative body and confirm the establishment of a national medical university in Jeonnam.”

Regarding Korea Energy Technology University, he said, “On the 15th, the “Korea Energy Technology University Act,” which includes provisions for financial support and special establishment clauses for Korea Energy Technology University, was submitted to the National Assembly.” He added, “Please promptly enact the special law so that it can open normally in 2022 and grow as a hub for next-generation global energy new industries.”

On the issue of local extinction risk, he said, “Among OECD countries, the concentration in the metropolitan area is the highest in the world, but the non-metropolitan areas are experiencing accelerated population outflow to the metropolitan area, and combined with low birth rates and aging, local extinction risk cannot be prevented by local efforts alone.” He requested, “Please adopt and promote as a party policy the enactment of a special law containing nationwide support measures for areas at risk of local extinction, such as ‘capital gains tax exemption for one household owning two houses when purchasing rural housing’ and ‘priority allocation of public institutions.’”

Governor Kim said, “The tragic ‘Yeosu-Suncheon 10·19 Incident’ in modern history marked its 72nd anniversary with a historic memorial ceremony held jointly by civilians, government, military, and police.” He added, “Although a special law has been proposed four times since 2001, it has failed to pass the National Assembly and was automatically discarded, during which most bereaved families have died or aged, making it more urgent than ever to pursue truth verification and restoration of honor for the victims at the national level.”

Therefore, he strongly requested, “Since the special law on the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident was submitted to the National Assembly in July with the signatures of 152 members from both ruling and opposition parties, please unite the National Assembly’s efforts to ensure its enactment.”

In response, Lee Nak-yeon, party leader, expressed deep sympathy for Jeollanam-do’s issues and promised maximum support at the party level for Jeonnam Province’s policy and budget issues.

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