Yoon Seok-yeol Announces '8 Major Pledges' to Make Jeonnam a New Growth Hub

Development pledge to utilize 4.3 million pyeong of salt-damaged farmland in Jeonnam for eco-friendly renewable energy industrial belt construction

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, announced on the 12th eight major pledges, including the creation of an eco-friendly renewable energy industrial belt, aiming to make Jeollanam-do the "center of new growth in the Republic of Korea."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the day he visited Jeonnam, Candidate Yoon stated that he would utilize 4.3 million pyeong of nearby salinized farmland in the Jeonnam region to create an eco-friendly renewable energy industrial belt. The industrial belt will include ▲the establishment of a carbon-neutral cluster, ▲the supply of industrial sites dedicated to eco-friendly renewable energy, ▲the creation of eco-friendly renewable energy power complexes, and ▲the development of smart cities based on eco-friendly renewable energy.

In the Goheung area of Jeonnam, he announced plans to build a space and aerospace industry cluster to create a space and aerospace industrial ecosystem linked with the Naro Space Center. This includes ▲a specialized industrial complex for space companies, ▲a support center for space companies, ▲a launch vehicle testing and certification center, and ▲a space science education theme park. He also presented a vision to connect future-type flying vehicle industries such as autonomous flight, drones, and flying cars.

To expand the metropolitan high-speed transportation network, he pledged to upgrade the Iksan-Yeosu Expo Station section, currently operated as a double-track railway, to KTX high-speed rail. Additionally, he plans to open ▲the Gwangju-Jeonnam Expressway (a circular expressway connecting Gwangju, Jangseong, Damyang, Hwasun, and Naju), ▲the Gwangju-Goheung Expressway (connecting Gwangju and the Goheung Space Center), ▲the second phase of the Gwangju-Wando Expressway, and ▲the Yeongam-Jindo Expressway, thereby expanding the expressway network and ensuring access to high-speed transportation within 30 minutes from anywhere.

Regarding Gwangyang Port, he promised to transform it into an eco-friendly smart port and develop it as a hub port in Northeast Asia. Candidate Yoon pointed out that Gwangyang Port, which is semi-automated, is facing difficulties such as declining port efficiency due to aging facilities and stagnation of new cargo volumes. He intends to actively apply 4th Industrial Revolution technologies to automate and optimize logistics and upgrade port facilities.

Concerning Muan International Airport, he presented a vision to foster it as a gateway for tourism and logistics, elevating it to a gateway airport befitting the status of the new growth center of the southern coast.

He also announced plans to establish an advanced medical complex in the Hwasun Vaccine Industry Special Zone. To enhance the global competitiveness of the bio-medical industry, which is recognized as a core technology in the era of 4th Industrial Convergence, he plans to build a prevention and treatment research and development (R&D) center and a biopharmaceutical production platform, as well as expand basic and clinical infrastructure centered on medical institutions.

He pledged to designate a Jeonnam-type Food Bio 6th Industry Specialized Zone and develop it into an advanced agricultural industry convergence cluster similar to the Netherlands' Food Valley. This includes ▲AI-based smart farms, ▲eco-friendly K-meal kit industries, ▲organic food export platforms, and ▲the tourism commercialization of the 6th industry, aiming to realize the multifaceted value of Jeonnam's agricultural industry and contribute to income stability for agricultural workers through new value creation.

Furthermore, he promised to create a marine tourism and leisure belt along the southern coast by effectively connecting islands and the mainland through projects such as ▲the Jangheung-Goheung (Deukryangdo) land bridge, ▲the Shinan Diamond Archipelago, ▲the Jindo-Jodo island bridge, ▲the Wando Bogil-Nohwa-Soan island bridge, ▲the Jindo-Shinan Hatae island bridge, and ▲the Haenam-Shinan Jangsan land bridge, making Jeonnam a comfortable place for island residents and tourists to enjoy.

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