Kim Du-kwan, Specifies '5Guk2Teuk' Vision... "Make Chungnam a 'Grand Megacity'... Early Completion of Private Airport and Seohae Line KTX"

Construction of a Civil Airport in Seosan, Chungnam
Early Completion of Seohae Line KTX High-Speed Rail Network... 40-Minute Travel from Seoul to Hongseong
Promises for Prompt Relocation of Public Institutions to Chungnam Innovation City

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] Kim Du-gwan, a presidential candidate from the Democratic Party of Korea who has presented "Five Seouls, a country where local areas also prosper" as his presidential slogan and proposed national balanced development as the national vision, announced on the 30th a mega-city vision and national balanced development plan that includes "investing more than 80 trillion won in the Chungcheong region mega-city to build a 'Grand Mega City'." Kim emphasizes dismantling the Seoul-centered unipolar system and promoting local decentralization into a five-pole, two-special zone system.

On this day, Kim held a press conference titled "Announcement of the Chungcheong Region Mega City Vision" at the Chungnam Provincial Government briefing room and announced these details.

First, Kim promised to realize the construction of a private airport in Seosan, Chungnam. He said, "Currently, the West Central Coast region including Seosan, Dangjin, and Pyeongtaek is an area underserved by air services," adding, "For national balanced development to be achieved, it is necessary to actively resolve the imbalance in transportation services and improve the level of transportation welfare."

On the 30th, Kim Du-kwan, a presidential candidate from the Democratic Party of Korea, held a press conference at the Chungcheongnam-do Provincial Government briefing room to announce the "Chungcheong Region Megacity Vision," stating, "We will invest more than 80 trillion won in the Chungcheong Region Megacity to build a 'Grand Megacity'." Photo by Kim Du-kwan's Office

On the morning of the same day, Kim visited Seosan Airport with Chungnam Governor Yang Seung-jo to discuss the construction of a private airport in Chungnam. Seosan Airport, currently used only as a military airport, was recognized as a feasible project with a B/C ratio of 1.32 in a preliminary feasibility study by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in 2017.

Kim mentioned Ulleung Airport, whose project cost was finally increased and is targeted to open in 2025, saying, "Seosan Airport will be a much more cost-effective, low-budget, high-efficiency airport," and promised to actively pursue the construction of a civilian airport in Chungnam. He added, "Since Governor Yang has extensive experience in the National Assembly, I believe budget allocation will be possible, and as a member of the Planning and Finance Committee, I will actively assist."

Governor Yang also welcomed Kim’s intention, saying, "Among all metropolitan local governments nationwide, Chungnam is the only one without an airport," and "The construction of a private airport is essential to resolve the aviation service deprivation of local residents and for the future development of Chungnam Innovation City."

Kim said on the day, "I am planning a decentralization New Deal that invests 320 trillion won during the presidential term to create four mega-cities including the Seoul metropolitan area." He also announced specific visions for Chungnam’s issues such as the construction of Seosan private airport, early completion of the West Coast KTX high-speed rail network, and the prompt relocation of public institutions to Chungnam Innovation City.

He emphasized, "Recently, the West Coast high-speed rail project was included in the 4th National Railroad Network Construction Plan. Once the West Coast line opens, the travel time from Seoul to Hongseong, Chungnam will be reduced from two hours to the 40-minute range," and pledged to complete the KTX high-speed rail network early.

Along with this, he pledged the prompt relocation of public institutions to Chungnam Innovation City. Kim said, "Since the designation of Naepo New Town as Chungnam Innovation City, there have been no visible effects so far," and added, "We will firmly attract public institutions, industrial centers, universities, research centers, and even KBS Chungnam Headquarters to Chungnam Innovation City."

He stressed, "Among the candidates running in the presidential primary, I am the only one who has made national balanced development a core pledge," and said, "I will dismantle the Seoul Republic and create a country where everyone prospers evenly."

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