Jangseong-gun to Establish 'National Cerebrovascular Center'... Reflected in Next Year's Budget

[Jangseong=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Jo Hangyu] Jangseong-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Yoo Doo-seok) announced on the 3rd that 2.8 billion KRW (2.3 billion KRW for land acquisition, 0.5 billion KRW for construction) for the purchase of land for the establishment of the National Cerebrovascular Center was finally reflected in next year’s government budget approved at the National Assembly plenary session.

In particular, according to the supplementary opinion on next year’s budget announced by the National Assembly on the same day, it was recommended that “the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) make efforts to ensure that the establishment of the National Cerebrovascular Center proceeds smoothly through consultation with Jeollanam-do,” providing a definite basis for the center to be established in the Jangseong Nano Industrial Complex within the Gwangju Research and Development Special Zone.

The project scale will also be expanded nearly fourfold.

Initially, according to the first and second feasibility studies by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the project was planned with a budget of 49 billion KRW and a site area of 13,500㎡, but based on the KDCA’s feasibility study results, the project will be newly promoted with a significantly increased budget of 190 billion KRW and a site area of 38,000㎡.

The county, which declared the promotion of the establishment of the National Cerebrovascular Center for the first time nationwide in 2007, has continued persistent efforts for 14 years.

The efforts began to bear fruit in 2017 when it was selected as a mutual growth pledge for Gwangju and Jeonnam by presidential candidate Moon Jae-in and later included in the top 100 national tasks after his election.

This led to the achievement of reflecting 4.37 billion KRW in this year’s government budget under the name of detailed design costs related to the center’s establishment (project scale 49 billion KRW).

However, the center’s establishment, which was progressing smoothly, began to face setbacks last year when the responsible department changed from the Ministry of Health and Welfare to the KDCA.

The KDCA conducted its own feasibility study from April to October, arguing that the 49 billion KRW budget from the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s study was insufficient for center operation.

When the project progress stalled, in June, Governor Yoo Doo-seok and National Assembly member Lee Gae-ho requested the KDCA director for prompt establishment during a meeting.

Since then, Jangseong-gun and Jeollanam-do have visited the KDCA more than ten times to urge the promotion of the establishment.

Based on its own feasibility study results early last month, the KDCA reported that a budget of 190 billion KRW, a site of 38,000㎡ (11,500 pyeong), and an organization of 570 employees are necessary, and eventually attempted to forfeit the previously secured government budget of 4.37 billion KRW and showed a lukewarm attitude toward securing next year’s budget.

Governor Yoo Doo-seok, 50,000 Jangseong residents, and the people of Gwangju and Jeonnam responded immediately.

Governor Yoo announced the “Declaration of All-Out Response by Jangseong Residents for the Prompt Establishment of the National Cerebrovascular Center” and delivered it to the KDCA.

Together with National Assembly member Lee Gae-ho, they also visited the Prime Minister, the Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, the Vice Minister of Strategy and Finance, and the KDCA director to convey the urgent local sentiment wishing for the establishment of the National Cerebrovascular Center.

At a rally at the Blue House on the 24th of last month, Governor Yoo, county council members, and representatives of social organizations showed their resolute will by even shaving their heads.

Jangseong residents also formed a countermeasure committee and held a general rally on the 22nd, followed by protests in front of the KDCA and the Blue House strongly opposing the forfeiture of the project budget.

Protests from the people of Gwangju and Jeonnam intensified, with Jangseong-gun, Jeollanam-do, Gwangju Metropolitan City, their respective councils, the Jeonnam Medical Association, and the Jeonnam Social Organizations Federation issuing statements.

As a result, a dramatic achievement was made at the National Assembly plenary session held that day, reflecting 2.8 billion KRW for land acquisition and other costs for the establishment of the National Cerebrovascular Center in next year’s government budget.

Governor Yoo Doo-seok said, “The KDCA’s forfeiture of the project budget became a catalyst that united 50,000 Jangseong residents to launch an all-out response, which ultimately turned adversity into opportunity,” adding, “This is a great achievement made possible by the united efforts of 3.4 million people of Gwangju and Jeonnam, including Jangseong residents who continued rallies and demonstrations regardless of rain and wind.”

He added, “I bow my head with tears to thank all 50,000 Jangseong residents,” and “We will concentrate all administrative power to ensure that the National Cerebrovascular Center is established as soon as possible.”

Jangseong=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Jo Hangyu chg6001@asiae.co.kr

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