Naju-si Holds the 1st Safety City Committee Meeting

[Naju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong] Naju City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Kang In-gyu) announced on the 16th that it held the ‘Safety City Committee 1st Meeting,’ a public-private joint committee for the relocation of LG Chem Naju Plant within the jurisdiction and the creation of an administrative complex town, which is being promoted as one of the five leading policy tasks, at the city hall.

At the meeting, Mayor Kang In-gyu, the standing chairman of the public-private joint committee, Jang Hee-cheon, honorary professor of Urban Planning and Real Estate Department at Gwangju University, Seo Wang-jin, director of the Seoul Institute and co-chairman, and Na Kang-yeol, head of the Sustainable City Research Office at the Gwangju-Jeonnam Research Institute, attended.

Professors Naju Mong of the Department of Regional Development at Chonnam National University, Park Jong-cheol, honorary professor of Urban and Regional Development at Mokpo National University, and Jo Yong-jun, former president of Gwangju Urban Corporation, who were to attend the Safety City Committee, submitted their opinions in writing due to scheduling conflicts.

The LG Chem Naju Plant started as Honam Fertilizer Plant established in 1962 on the current site in Songwol-dong, which was then a suburban area, covering an area of 142,000 pyeong, and has since played a key role in the local economy by increasing tax revenue and creating jobs.

However, as the city expanded, the plant is now located in the center of the old downtown area, surrounded by schools and new apartment complexes. Due to the nature of the industry, residents’ demands for relocation have increased to guarantee citizens’ rights to safety, health, and environment, considering the possibility of major accidents.

Moreover, following the accidents at LG Chem’s India plant and Chungnam Daesan plant in May, which caused casualties, LG Chem has urgently inspected high-risk processes and facilities at 40 plants worldwide, sparking active public discussions on relocating chemical plants both domestically and internationally.

Through this meeting, the city decided to focus on preparing win-win measures for the relocation of LG Chem Naju Plant within the jurisdiction and corporate attraction at the LG Group level.

Additionally, linked with the second phase of public institution relocation to local areas, the city plans to attract public institutions to the relocation site and create an administrative complex town combining the city hall construction with residential, leisure, and convenience facilities.

The city plans to establish a future strategic industry in the region by securing the relocation site through a mutual ‘win-win’ strategy between the region and the company, attracting investment in LG Chem’s core business of electric vehicle battery production, and leading new investments at the LG Group level, including secondary battery business.

To this end, the city has started a feasibility study to present the necessity of plant relocation by investigating the current regional status and reviewing related plans, as well as setting directions for the development of the current site after relocation.

Mayor Kang In-gyu said, “Considering citizens’ anxiety about chemical plant accidents, it is now time to foster public discussion within the region for the relocation of the Naju plant within the jurisdiction. We will prioritize mutual coexistence between the region and the company to revitalize the local economy through the plant’s relocation within the jurisdiction and secure balanced development momentum between the old downtown and the innovation city through the creation of an administrative complex town.”

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