Democratic Party's 'Regional Balanced New Deal On-Site Supreme Council' Takes First Step in Gwangju

Lee Nak-yeon Party Leader "Will Fully Support Gwangju and Jeonnam Current Projects"

Also Visited GGM Construction Site... Promised to Help Settle Gwangju-type Jobs

The leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea is holding the 'Regional Balanced New Deal On-site Supreme Council Meeting for Regional Coexistence' on the 30th at the Gwangju Metropolitan Council's main conference room. Photo by Jamin Yoon yjm3070@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters reporters Yoon Jamin and Lee Gwanwoo] The Democratic Party's 'On-site Supreme Council Meeting for Regional Co-prosperity and Regional Balanced New Deal' was held for the first time in Gwangju on the 30th.

The Democratic Party leadership had a brief tea time with Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, and others before entering the meeting room.

At the meeting held in the main conference room of the Gwangju Metropolitan Council, attendees included Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon, Supreme Council members Kim Jong-min, Shin Dong-geun, Yeom Tae-young, Yang Hyang-ja, Park Hong-bae, Central Party Secretary-General Park Kwang-on, Strategy Planning Committee Chairman Jeong Tae-ho, Future Transition K-New Deal Committee General Director Lee Kwang-jae, Gwangju Party Chairman Song Gap-seok, National Assembly members Oh Young-hoon, Han Jun-ho, Kim Young-bae, Han Jeong-ae, Hong Young-pyo, Jeonnam Party Chairman Kim Seung-nam, Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop, and Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok.

Before the meeting, they shouted slogans such as "For the success of the Korean New Deal" and "For the success of the regional New Deal" and took their seats.

Leader Lee Nak-yeon began by saying, "I came here with the intention to carefully listen to the words of the two city and provincial governors today and to definitely reflect on several things we must observe during this budget review process."

He said, "I came to Gwangju to hold the Supreme Council for the Regional Balanced New Deal first in the Honam region. The Korean New Deal is the cornerstone for new development after COVID-19. The Regional Balanced New Deal was newly added by the President's decision to create a new Korea while achieving regional balance."

He continued, "Although not everything will be solved through the Regional Balanced New Deal, I will make sure that balanced development functions as the most essential value in the dynamic process of building a new Korea," adding, "Mayor Lee Yong-seop's ambitious 'AI-centered Digital New Deal' and the construction of a 'carbon-neutral city' by 2045 are the core of the Korean New Deal."

Regarding Jeonnam Province's current issues, he said, "Governor Kim Young-rok is promoting offshore wind power and the Blue Economy, both of which are essential for Jeonnam's future. I am impressed by the insight to identify projects that Jeonnam can do better than any other region," emphasizing, "Each one is necessary, and since Jeonnam is best suited for these fields, I will support and encourage these vigorous challenges."

He also explained Gwangju's issues such as military airport relocation, the adoption of party positions on the May 18-related bills, Songjeong Station expansion, and the Jeolla Line KTX.

Lee Nak-yeon, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is delivering opening remarks at the "On-site Supreme Council Meeting for Regional Balanced New Deal for Regional Coexistence" in Gwangju on the 30th. Photo by Yoon Ja-min yjm3070@asiae.co.kr

The Supreme Council members and National Assembly members attending the meeting also pledged to devote all their efforts to the Regional Balanced New Deal.

Supreme Council member Kim Jong-min said, "Just as the Gwangju Uprising saved democracy in Korea, the Gwangju-type jobs will become a flag to revive Korea's job economy, and the Jeonnam-type co-prosperity jobs are expected to be a cornerstone for the success of the Green New Deal," adding, "The Democratic Party will actively support and work together on the Gwangju-type jobs and Jeonnam-type co-prosperity jobs for Korea's future."

Supreme Council member Yang Hyang-ja said, "I will make Honam the New Deal capital leading regional balance and nurture it as an AI capital that will lead the future era beyond industrialization and democratization," emphasizing, "If the Korean New Deal and the Economic Free Zone Activation Act are passed, the synergy will be even greater. Please support the Honam New Deal and the Economic Free Zone Activation Act."

Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop said, "The Gwangju-type job project, a world-first human-centered New Deal project promoting co-prosperity, has surpassed 60% progress in building the automobile factory," adding, "As planned, mass production of 100,000 completed vehicles will begin in September next year, and when production worker recruitment starts in earnest early next year, it will greatly help resolve local employment."

He also requested, "As part of the Green New Deal projects, please support government preliminary feasibility approval and national funding for the eco-friendly air industry cluster attracted to Gwangju, and national funding for the Gwangju Green Startup Town," adding, "Although the Data 3 Act was passed last January, support for AI industry promotion, data processing special laws, and national funding for AI real-world testbeds is also needed to actively utilize AI data."

He explained the progress of the 'AI-centered city creation project' related to the Digital New Deal and requested increased national funding for the 'AI Industry Promotion and Data Processing Special Act' and the 'AI Digital Park and Real-world Testbed Construction Project' for AI service demonstration.

Mayor Lee explained the status of the Gwangju-type automobile factory (GGM), the nation's first human-centered co-prosperity regional job project, and requested 'housing cost support for Gwangju-type job workers' and 'corporate tax reductions for domestic and foreign advanced technology resident companies' to revitalize investment attraction in the Bitgreen Industrial Complex and other Gwangju Economic Free Zones.

He also proposed support for the passage within this year of the 'May 18 Special Act (Special Act on the May 18 Democratic Movement, Special Act for Truth Investigation of the May 18 Democratic Movement)' legislated as a Democratic Party party position on the 27th, and for the legislative support of the amendment to the 'Military Airport Relocation Special Act.'

Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok said, "Jeonnam is the only city/province without a national medical school, and I ask for active cooperation so that the 2 million Jeonnam residents' 30-year-long wish can be fulfilled," adding, "KAIST and Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology were established as world-class universities through special laws guaranteeing financial support and university autonomy. Special support is needed to ensure the passage of the Korea Energy Science and Technology University Act."

He also added, "Please exempt preliminary feasibility studies for regions at risk of local extinction, exempt capital gains tax on rural housing, and provide special benefits such as priority allocation of public institutions," and said, "As it has been 72 years since the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident, most bereaved families have passed away or are elderly, so urgent national-level truth investigation and restoration of victims' honor are needed."

Lee Nak-yeon, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and the leadership are touring the construction site of Gwangju Global Motors within Bitgreen Industrial Complex after concluding the 'Regional Balanced New Deal On-site Supreme Council Meeting for Regional Coexistence.' Photo by Lee Kwan-woo kwlee719@asiae.co.kr

After the meeting, the Democratic Party leadership visited the construction site of 'Gwangju Global Motors' in the Gwangju Bitgreen Industrial Complex to check the Gwangju-type job model.

Leader Lee Nak-yeon had lunch at the cafeteria that day and then visited the site office to receive reports on the GGM project progress and construction status. He also inspected the painting factory and others.

He said, "The Gwangju-type jobs are attracting attention as the first regional co-prosperity job model, and they have a great influence on other co-prosperity jobs. It must succeed to revitalize the Gwangju regional economy and ensure labor-management coexistence as originally intended."

He emphasized, "The government and central politics will do everything necessary for the early settlement of the Gwangju-type job project."

He also checked whether there are plans to produce other future-type vehicles besides the compact sports utility vehicle (SUV) model that GGM is about to produce.

Leader Lee said, "Hyundai Motor Company has responded swiftly to changes in automobile demand and ecosystem changes, moving quickly even in hydrogen and electric vehicles to lay the foundation," adding, "I am relieved to know that they are making the fastest leap in the electric vehicle battery field."

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