Support for Hosting COP28 in the Southern Coastal and Central Southern Regions Spreads

Lee Si-jong, Governor of Chungbuk? Lee Chun-hee, Mayor of Sejong, and 11 Other City and Provincial Leaders Sign Support Petition

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Shim Kyung-taek] Jeollanam-do and Gyeongsangnam-do are jointly promoting the bid to host the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) in the South Coast Southern Central Region, and statements of support for the bid from heads of metropolitan local governments nationwide are continuing, brightening the prospects for the bid.

According to Jeonnam Province, on June 30, Lee Chun-hee, Mayor of Sejong City, signed a statement supporting the joint hosting of COP28 in the South Coast Southern Central Region, increasing the number of metropolitan local government heads supporting the bid to a total of 11, including Jeonnam and Gyeongnam provinces.

The mayor signed and sent to Jeonnam Province a statement saying, “Before the Republic of Korea officially expresses its intention to host abroad, I actively support the joint hosting of the 28th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties by 12 cities and counties in the South Coast Southern Central Region to prevent wasteful competition among local governments by pre-selecting the domestic host city and to prepare systematically for the event.”

Earlier, on June 18, Lee Si-jong, Governor of Chungbuk Province, also personally signed a statement saying, “I welcome President Moon Jae-in’s declaration of the Republic of Korea’s bid to host the 28th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties in 2023 at the 2021 P4G Seoul Green Future Summit, and I actively support the joint hosting by 12 cities and counties in the South Coast Southern Central Region centered on Yeosu, which has raised and acted on global environmental and climate issues.”

Thus, the metropolitan local governments supporting the bid for the South Coast Southern Central Region include 11 cities and provinces: Seoul, Gwangju, Sejong, Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Chungbuk, Chungnam, Gyeongbuk, Jeonbuk, as well as Jeonnam and Gyeongnam.

Kim Jeong-wan, Head of Jeonnam Province’s COP28 Bid Promotion Team, said, “The South Coast Southern Central Region is the optimal place to discuss various climate change issues and is a key area for carbon neutrality, including zero coal power generation, renewable energy infrastructure, and green hydrogen ecosystem establishment. We will take the opportunity of hosting COP28 in the South Coast Southern Central Region to transform the Republic of Korea into a carbon-neutral country.”

Meanwhile, the South Coast Southern Central Region includes six cities and counties in Jeonnam Province: Yeosu, Suncheon, Gwangyang, Gurye, Goheung, Boseong; and six cities and counties in Gyeongnam Province: Jinju, Sacheon, Goseong, Namhae, Hadong, Sancheong.

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