Kim Han-jong, Chairman of Jeonnam Provincial Council, New Year's Address: "Leading Regional Economic Recovery and Medical School Attraction"

Kim Han-jong, Former Chairman of Jeonnam Provincial Council

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] Kim Han-jong, Chairman of Jeonnam Provincial Council, expressed his determination to take the lead in overcoming the COVID-19 crisis, restoring the local economy, and attracting a medical school.

On the 28th, Chairman Kim said in his New Year's address, “Last year, the Jeonnam Provincial Council made efforts to represent the voices of the residents as close to them as possible,” and added, “We did our best to fully incorporate the demands of the residents into the vessel called policy and to create real changes in their lives.”

Chairman Kim evaluated, “To stabilize the lives of residents affected by COVID-19 and restore the local economy, we approved three supplementary budgets to support livelihoods,” and “We visited residents who suffered damage from the prolonged rainy season and successive typhoons to support recovery efforts and also promoted fact-finding on flood damage through a special committee.”

He continued, “Until we overcome COVID-19, the top priority of our legislative activities will be the recovery of livelihoods,” and emphasized, “The establishment of a medical school equipped with regional infectious disease response capabilities has become indispensable due to COVID-19. The Jeonnam Provincial Council will take the lead in attracting a medical school for the health and safety of residents.”

Regarding population measures, he stated, “According to a report by the Korea Employment Information Service, out of 228 cities, counties, and districts, 105 are classified as areas at risk of population extinction due to regional population outflow, low birthrate, and aging. In particular, 18 out of 22 cities and counties in Jeonnam are expected to disappear within 30 years,” and added, “Jeonnam is facing a population cliff that threatens the very existence of the region. We will join forces to have the government and the National Assembly enact comprehensive support measures and special laws.”

Chairman Kim explained, “We will strengthen legislative activities so that local councils fulfill their roles toward executive agencies, checking major policies through administrative audits, provincial government inquiries, and budget reviews, and actively reflecting residents’ voices in provincial and educational administration,” and “We will expand the role of the Ethics Committee to enhance the responsibility and ethics of local councils.”

Furthermore, he said, “It is regrettable that the reduction of policy support personnel and the authority over council organization are determined by presidential decree, but true decentralization of power begins now,” and added, “The Jeonnam Provincial Council will actively take the lead in writing a new history of local autonomy through follow-up measures to the Local Autonomy Act and the enactment of the Local Council Act.”

In conclusion, he said, “Like the proverb unwae changcheon (雲外蒼天) meaning ‘beyond the clouds, the sky is blue,’ if we overcome this year’s crisis, hope will come. Despite the dark clouds of COVID-19, we will draw a hopeful future for residents’ lives through legislative activities that represent their voices.”

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