Gwangju City and Democratic Party Join Forces to Solve Local Issues and Secure National Funding

Holding Budget Policy Council Meeting... Discussion on Key Issues

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Gwangju Metropolitan City and the Democratic Party of Korea held the ‘2021 Budget Policy Council’ on the 21st to join forces in resolving regional issues and securing next year’s national budget.

According to Gwangju City on the 21st, the Budget Policy Council was attended by Mayor Lee Yong-seop and senior city officials, and from the Democratic Party, party leaders including Representative Song Young-gil, Floor Leader Yoon Ho-jung, Supreme Council Members Kim Yong-min, Kang Byung-won, Baek Hye-ryun, Kim Young-bae, Policy Committee Chair Park Wan-joo, Chief Secretary Seo Sam-seok, and Budget Committee Whip Maeng Sung-kyu, as well as local members of the National Assembly.

Mayor Lee Yong-seop first requested, “Please help ensure that the Daegu-Gwangju Dalbit Inland Railroad is included in the 4th National Railroad Network Construction Plan at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s Railway Industry Committee meeting to be held this month.”

The mayor said, “The Dalbit Inland Railroad is a campaign pledge of President Moon Jae-in and a necessary project for national integration through east-west harmony and balanced national development, as well as the heartfelt wish of the Yeonghonam people. If it is not included in the 4th plan, which is a 10-year plan, the disappointment and frustration of the local residents will be immeasurable.”

He also requested that the central government take interest and support the relocation of Gwangju Military Airport by passing the Special Act on Military Airport Relocation during this regular session of the National Assembly.

The mayor said, “The relocation of Gwangju Military Airport is also a presidential pledge and included in the 100 national tasks. Since the military airport is an important national security facility, the state must take the lead. The Ministry of National Defense agrees with the amendment bill on the Special Act on Military Airport Relocation currently pending in the National Assembly, which specifies processing deadlines for each procedure, so I ask that it be prioritized for passage during this regular session.”

In addition, he requested party-level interest and support to ensure that ongoing projects such as expanding support for compact cars for the success of the Gwangju-type job model, enacting a special AI law to support South Korea as one of the four major AI powers, and promoting the national project for the Democracy and Human Rights Park being developed on the site of the old Gwangju Prison proceed without setbacks.

On the day, cooperation was also requested from the party for national budget support totaling 453.3 billion won for 21 projects including ▲ fostering eco-friendly air industry ▲ conducting feasibility study for establishing the National High Magnetic Field Research Institute ▲ establishing Gwangju Medical Center ▲ constructing the Gwangju Biennale exhibition hall ▲ building an AI semiconductor commercialization testbed ▲ creating an AI-centered industrial convergence complex ▲ constructing Urban Railway Line 2.

Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil responded, “We will do our best at the party level to ensure that Gwangju, the holy land of democracy, not only advances democracy but also leads cutting-edge industries in the AI era by reflecting major pending projects in the government budget.”

Meanwhile, Gwangju City has been making every effort to secure 3 trillion won in national funds by consecutively holding meetings such as the party-government council with local members of the National Assembly in April, the Ministry of Economy and Finance and Local Finance Council in May, the Justice Party Budget Policy Meeting in June, and the Budget Policy Council with the Democratic Party of Korea.

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