Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok: "Need to Establish Southern South Coast Megacity and New Marine Industry"

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, expressed the necessity of establishing the Gwangju-Jeonnam metropolitan economic zone, the Southern Namhae Peninsula megacity, and the creation of a new marine and environmental capital as a new paradigm for national balanced development at the ‘Ultra-wide Area Cooperation Promotion Strategy Report Meeting’ held on the 14th in Sejong City, presided over by President Moon Jae-in.

For the establishment of the Gwangju-Jeonnam metropolitan economic zone, three ultra-wide area cooperation projects jointly prepared by Gwangju and Jeonnam are ▲a global energy hub cooperated by Gwangju and Jeonnam ▲the Southern Namhae Peninsula megacity linking Jeonnam and Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam (Bu-Ul-Gyeong) ▲and the Bitgoeul Smart Megacity promoting mutual growth among Gwangju and five adjacent cities and counties.

To build the ‘Global Energy Hub,’ the Korea Energy Engineering University, which opened in 2022, will be developed into the world’s top energy-specialized university, and a super-powerful laser research facility, a large-scale national research facility utilized across industries such as energy, bio, and space industries, will be established.

They plan to create an 8.2GW offshore wind power complex to realize entry into the ‘Top 5 Offshore Wind Power Countries in the World by 2030.’

Additionally, starting with the Southern Namhae Peninsula wide-area tourism belt that integrates natural and cultural resources such as the marine tourism road connecting Yeonggwang~Mokpo~Yeosu~Namhae~Geoje~Busan~Ulsan and island cruises connecting scenic islands, they plan to actively foster the Southern Namhae Peninsula metropolitan economic zone and establish the Southern Namhae Peninsula megacity.

Along with this, the Bitgoeul Smart Megacity will also be established, where Gwangju and five adjacent cities and counties will cooperate jointly on industry, jobs, education, and emergency medical services based on artificial intelligence.

Governor Kim emphasized the need for reorganization such as elevating the Balanced Development Committee to a ministerial-level department as a control tower for national balanced development or integrating the Balanced Development Committee and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to create a deputy prime minister-level ‘Ministry of National Balanced Development and Autonomy’ during the discussion on balanced development and ultra-wide area cooperation.

He also proposed establishing a ‘New Marine and Environmental Capital’ as the third capital of South Korea after the economic capital and administrative capital, centered on Yeosu and Namhae in the Southern Namhae Peninsula mid-region as a symbol of Yeongnam-Honam harmony, relocating marine and environmental ministries and public institutions, successfully hosting the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties, and attracting international organizations related to marine and environmental fields.

Governor Kim stated, “Ultra-wide area cooperation projects to form an economic zone comparable to the metropolitan area are not the completion but a new beginning of national balanced development,” and emphasized, “It is necessary to shift the paradigm from a central-centric mindset that simply allocates a little more budget to local areas to coexistence and mutual growth with the regions.”

He continued, “Not only should bold delegation of central authority be made, but also full support comparable to the 18 trillion won invested in the metropolitan area’s wide-area express railroad (GTX) should be provided for local ultra-wide area cooperation projects.”

The report meeting was held with the participation of about 50 people including local government representatives such as Governor Kim, the Prime Minister, ministers of related ministries, and members of the National Assembly, and proceeded with presentations of ultra-wide area cooperation cases by four regions: Gwangju-Jeonnam, Bu-Ul-Gyeong, Chungcheong, and Daegu-Gyeongbuk, followed by a joint ultra-wide area cooperation support strategy report by related ministries and a discussion.

For the Gwangju-Jeonnam region, Mayor Lee Yong-seop of Gwangju introduced three projects as the representative: ▲Global Energy Hub cooperated by Jeonnam and Gwangju ▲Bitgoeul Smart Megacity promoting mutual growth among Gwangju and five adjacent cities and counties ▲Southern Namhae Peninsula Southern Region Ultra-wide Area Megacity.

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