Gyeongbuk Province: "This Year a Turning Point in Inter-Korean Relations... Will Present Exchange and Cooperation Action Plan in the Second Half"

'Integrated New Airport and Yeongilman Port' Developed as a Central Hub for Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation

Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk Province, delivering a greeting at the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Committee meeting on the 14th.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] Gyeongsangbuk-do announced on the 14th that it plans to present a roadmap and action plan for the 'Promotion of the South-North Economic Cooperation 3.0 Era,' signifying a new era of inter-Korean exchange and cooperation, in the second half of this year.

At the Gyeongbuk Province South-North Exchange and Cooperation Committee meeting held via video for the first time this year on the 14th, Governor Lee Cheol-woo attended unusually and expressed a clear will for inter-Korean exchange and cooperation, urging the committee to play an active role, including generating business ideas.

The Gyeongbuk Province South-North Exchange and Cooperation Committee consists of 20 members, including five ex officio officials such as the vice governor and bureau chiefs, and 15 appointed members. Established in March 2008 under the relevant ordinance, this committee deliberates on matters related to inter-Korean exchange cooperation projects and fund management.

Since the 2018 inter-Korean summit, Gyeongbuk Province has strengthened its dedicated organization for exchange and cooperation and operated a task force team to discover projects. In 2019, the 'Joint Survey Research Project on Woodblocks Located in North Korea' was selected as a key project by the Ministry of Unification among local governments, preparing various specialized projects; however, progress was not made due to the subsequent deterioration of inter-Korean relations.

However, due to changes in the international situation, Gyeongbuk Province expects that inter-Korean relations will reach a turning point this year and that the South-North Exchange and Cooperation 3.0 era will open from the end of 2022 with the new government, and plans to resume preparations for exchange and cooperation.

Kim Min-seok, head of the Gyeongbuk Province Future Strategy Planning Group, emphasized in the report on inter-Korean exchange and cooperation that "with the goal of developing the Integrated New Airport and Yeongilman Port as central hubs for inter-Korean exchange and cooperation, starting this year, we will cooperate comprehensively with various entities such as international organizations, the central government, and other local governments, while faithfully supporting the roles and efforts of private organizations and companies."

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