Wando County Council Member Jo In-ho: "We Will Make Every Effort for the Yeondo-Yeonyuk Project"

Today, a native expresses thoughts on the confirmed 'National Road Upgrade' of Wando-Gohung

Councilor Jo In-ho of Wando County / Photo by Asia Economy

[Wando＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Kyung-pil] The long-awaited project for 20 years by the residents of Wando and Goheung in Jeonnam, the upgrade of the Wando-Goheung coastal tourist road to a national highway, was finally confirmed on the 13th. Jo In-ho, a member of the Wando County Council who has made extraordinary efforts, shared his thoughts on the national highway upgrade.

Jo In-ho, a native of Geumil, Wando County Council member, said, “The upgrade of the Wando-Goheung road to a national highway has created conditions to expedite the island connection and land reclamation projects, alleviating the hardships of island residents and accelerating regional development,” expressing high expectations for the upgrade.

Jo said, “Once the land reclamation project is completed, the quality of life for residents in the eastern part of Wando will improve, social costs will be reduced, and economic losses related to the distribution of agricultural and marine products will decrease, bringing many changes.”

He especially noted, “The conditions for seamless connectivity will improve island accessibility for Wando County, revitalizing Geumil Beach and significantly contributing to tourism income generation in Geumdang and Saengil, islands whose value as desirable destinations is increasing. Above all, improving accessibility to the eastern islands of Wando and balanced development throughout Wando, along with establishing ‘becoming one with the residents,’ is very meaningful.”

Jo spearheaded a strategy for national highway upgrade through cooperation between local councils by jointly adopting a resolution for the upgrade with the Goheung County Council in 2014 and submitting it to the central government.

In 2019, at the Jeonnam city and county council chairpersons’ meeting, a proposal to upgrade Local Road 830 to a national highway for the creation of the ‘Southwest Coast Tourism and Recreation Belt’ was adopted and submitted to the central government after approval by the National Council of Chairpersons.

At that time, Jo, as the main proposer, emphasized, “The southern coastal area including Wando has pristine ecological tourism resources and natural environments, which should be developed into a world-class Southwest Coast tourism and recreation belt.”

Especially during the intense campaign period of the 19th presidential election, Jo and the national highway upgrade promotion committee visited Mrs. Kim Jung-sook to present the hardships of island residents and the necessity of the national highway upgrade and island connection projects, earnestly requesting that these long-standing wishes of the residents be fulfilled if the president was elected.

Jo expressed gratitude, saying, “I thank the residents and compatriots who supported and helped us to unite this will and strategically push forward. Based on the strength gained from achieving the national highway upgrade, I will devote all efforts to the island connection and land reclamation projects.”

Jo emphasized, “I will work tirelessly to relieve the lifelong hardships of the elders who carry the sorrows of island people, with no regrets.”

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