Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok Requests Cooperation and Support for Regional Issues from the People Power Party

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, attended the ‘People Power Party Budget Policy Council’ on the 27th and requested party-level cooperation and support for reflecting next year’s regional pending projects in the national budget and policy support matters.

According to Jeonnam Province, the Budget Policy Council held at the Gwangju Metropolitan City Hall Business Room was attended by Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, Lee Jong-bae, chairman of the Policy Committee, Chu Kyung-ho, Budget and Accounts Committee secretary, Jung Woon-cheon, Budget and Accounts Committee member, and Lim Dong-ha, chairman of the Jeonnam Provincial Party Committee.

At the Budget Policy Council, Governor Kim proposed bipartisan support for 15 pending projects that need to be additionally reflected during the National Assembly review stage, including budget support projects such as ▲ construction of the high-speed railway on the Gyeongjeon Line (Gwangju Songjeong~Suncheon) ▲ promotion of the southern region wide-area tourism development project ▲ installation of wings (pedestrian paths) on the Cheonsa Bridge ▲ establishment of a bio-health convergence knowledge industry center.

Regarding policy issues, Jeonnam explained that it is the only region nationwide without a medical school and a tertiary general hospital, causing considerable difficulties in responding to COVID-19 and other matters.

He emphasized the need for active support to resolve the long-standing wishes of the residents that have continued for the past 30 years.

Governor Kim said, “We are promoting the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) University as a global top 10 institution in the Naju Innovation City,” and proposed, “A special law should be enacted so that KEPCO University can receive government support like KAIST and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in the past.”

He also emphasized, “The Yeosu-Suncheon Incident is a tragedy of modern history that expanded to areas including Gyeongnam and Daegu. Now, 72 years after the incident, a special law is needed at the national level for truth verification and restoration of the victims’ honor.”

Regarding the special law to support regions at risk of local extinction, he said, “Among the 22 cities and counties in Jeonnam, 18 are facing extinction risk, and the population decline problem is very serious. We are promoting the enactment of a special law containing nationwide support measures such as increasing the national subsidy rate and exemption from capital gains tax when purchasing rural houses, together with Gyeongsangbuk-do and others, so support is urgently needed to ensure the special law is enacted.”

He also requested, “The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) has been finally approved as an international event and is scheduled to be held in 2023. Since 10 cities and counties in Jeonnam and Gyeongnam are jointly bidding, please cooperate at the party level so that it can be held centered on Yeosu in the southern coast and southern central region.”

In response, Floor Leader Joo Ho-young and Policy Committee Chairman Lee Jong-bae stated, “Support is needed for regions at risk of local extinction, such as differentiated national subsidy rates, and various government policy benefits are concentrated in the metropolitan area and adjacent regions. Support measures for regions far from the metropolitan area are more necessary.”

Budget and Accounts Committee Secretary Chu Kyung-ho said, “There should be a mechanism to distribute capital concentrated in urban areas to local areas.”

People Power Party National Integration Committee Chairman Jung Woon-cheon said, “Joint projects between local governments, such as the construction of the Seomjingang Yeonghonam complex transfer park, should be discovered and promoted,” and added, “The People Power Party will assign budget and accounts committee members to the Honam region to actively reflect regional pending projects.”

Governor Kim said, “As the National Assembly budget review begins on the 28th, I will visit the National Assembly frequently to explain regional pending projects and build an organic network with local lawmakers and their aides,” and added, “I will do my best to secure the national budget until the budget bill is finalized.”

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