2023 Suncheonman International Garden Expo Success Signal, Securing 16.8 Billion KRW in National and Provincial Funds for Next Year

Suncheon City, Jeonnam Province, and Local National Assembly Members Shine in Triangular Cooperation

Explanation Session on National and Provincial Fund Securing Projects by the Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo Foundation (Photo by Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo Foundation)

[Suncheon=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] The Suncheonman International Garden Expo Organizing Committee announced on the 17th that it has secured 16.8 billion KRW in national and provincial funding for a total of 10 projects next year to ensure the successful hosting of the ‘2023 Suncheonman International Garden Expo.’

The main projects include ▲Expo infrastructure (national and provincial funding of 5.95 billion KRW) ▲National Garden nightscape (provincial funding of 2.4 billion KRW) ▲National Garden botanical garden (provincial funding of 2.47 billion KRW) ▲AIPH Future Garden (provincial funding of 2 billion KRW) ▲Korean Peninsula crater garden (national funding of 1.2 billion KRW) ▲Life-friendly forest (national funding of 1.5 billion KRW) ▲Haeryong Streamside living environment forest (provincial funding of 500 million KRW) ▲Outdoor advertising project revenue (national funding of 600 million KRW), among others.

This amount excludes projects directly implemented by Suncheon City, such as bridge reconstruction and ecological garden street creation (national funding of 5.6 billion KRW), and the development of Jukdobong area as a tourist attraction (national and provincial funding of 2 billion KRW). Including these, the total scale will be even larger.

The securing of national and provincial funding this time is especially meaningful as the three major killer contents of the ‘2023 Suncheonman International Garden Expo’?the Korean Peninsula crater garden, AIPH Future Garden, and National Garden botanical garden?all receive separate national and provincial support.

Behind this achievement is the three-way cooperation among Suncheon City, Jeollanam-do Province, and National Assembly members So Byung-chul and Seo Dong-yong.

Not only the Garden Expo Organizing Committee but also Suncheon City and Jeollanam-do jointly prepared persuasive arguments for central government ministries, with Mayor Heo Seok particularly visiting Jeollanam-do and central ministries to meticulously explain the projects and put in great effort.

When faced with opposition from central ministries, National Assembly members So Byung-chul and Seo Dong-yong personally stepped in to lend their support.

Additionally, Governor Kim Young-rok, who has consistently expressed his intention to develop the 2023 Garden Expo into one of the world’s top three garden expos, is reported to have shown special interest not only in securing national funding but also in the Jeollanam-do budget allocation process for next year.

Yang Seon-gil, Planning Director of the Suncheonman International Garden Expo Organizing Committee, stated, “Securing 16.8 billion KRW in national and provincial funding next year has laid the foundation for the successful hosting of the expo,” adding, “The Organizing Committee will accelerate preparations for the expo, starting with the commencement of facility construction early next year.”

Meanwhile, the ‘2023 Suncheonman International Garden Expo,’ with a total project cost of 46.7 billion KRW, will be held for six months from April 22 to October 22, 2023, across the Suncheonman National Garden and the downtown area of Suncheon City.

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