Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok and Members of the National Assembly Agree to Jointly Address Key Regional Issues

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, attended the Democratic Party Jeonnam Provincial Party and Party-Government Council and agreed to jointly respond to 19 key regional issues, including the enactment of the ‘Yeosu-Suncheon 10·19 Incident Special Act.’

According to Jeonnam Province on the 15th, the Party-Government Council was held with the participation of Governor Kim, Kim Seung-nam, Chairman of the Jeonnam Provincial Party, and 10 local members of the National Assembly. The meeting was an opportunity to explain major issues of Jeonnam Province to local lawmakers and request cooperation and support at the National Assembly level.

The urgent policy issues discussed that day included nine items: ▲ Enactment of the Korea Energy Technology University Act ▲ Enactment of the Yeosu-Suncheon 10·19 Incident Special Act ▲ Establishment of a National Medical School ▲ Hosting the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) ▲ Improvement of local fiscal decentralization ▲ Institutional improvements for early promotion of offshore wind power ▲ Designation of a national advanced medical complex ▲ Enactment of a special law to support regions at risk of local extinction ▲ Promotion of national policy for farmers and fishermen’s public interest allowances.

Additionally, ten tasks for improving regional balanced development systems were discussed: ▲ Return of local traffic, energy, and environmental taxes ▲ Improvement of capital gains tax exemptions for rural housing ▲ Enactment of a special law for nuclear power plant decommissioning areas and designation of national industrial complexes ▲ Recommendations related to the full revision of the Local Autonomy Act ▲ Expansion of local resource facility tax imposition ▲ Extension of designation of special areas for industrial crisis response ▲ Introduction of the Hometown Love Donation System ▲ Institutional improvements such as realistic disaster relief funds ▲ Improvement of crop disaster insurance systems ▲ Institutional improvements related to avian influenza (AI) quarantine measures.

Governor Kim said, “With the active support of local lawmakers this year, we secured a national budget of 7.6671 trillion won, exceeding 7 trillion won in national funds for two consecutive years. Especially, many projects essential for Jeonnam’s future, such as the Blue Economy and Korea-style New Deal projects, which are core policies of the province, were reflected, laying the foundation for greater advancement.”

He also mentioned the enactment of the Korea Energy Technology University Act.

Since the recruitment of new students and securing key facilities for the next year are urgent, he requested support to ensure its passage in the March National Assembly session.

Regarding the Yeosu-Suncheon 10·19 Incident Special Act, he said, “At the Public Administration and Security Committee subcommittee on the 3rd, there was no special opposition from the opposition party, and the enactment of the special law is becoming increasingly visible. Since most of the bereaved families have passed away or are elderly, and truth verification and restoration of honor are urgent, I ask everyone to make every effort to ensure the special law is passed within the March extraordinary session.”

On the establishment of a national medical school, he stated, “It is the aspiration of 2 million residents that has continued for over 30 years and must be included in the medical policy council discussions to overcome Jeonnam’s poor medical conditions. Please confirm the establishment of a national medical school in Jeonnam, the only province nationwide without a medical school.”

Kim Seung-nam, Chairman of the Jeonnam Provincial Party, and the attending lawmakers said, “We will ensure the most urgent issue, the Korea Energy Technology University Act, passes within March. We will work closely with Governor Kim to resolve various issues such as the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident Special Act, establishment of the national medical school, and hosting of COP28.”

Meanwhile, separately from the Party-Government Council, Governor Kim met with former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon, Industry and Energy Committee Chairman Lee Hak-young, and Policy Committee Chairman Hong Ik-pyo to request support to ensure the ‘Korea Energy Technology University Act’ and the ‘Yeosu-Suncheon 10·19 Incident Special Act’ are passed in the March extraordinary session.

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