President-elect Yoon: "Regional Balanced Development Committee and National Integration Committee to be Maintained During My Term"

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jeong] President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol announced on the 24th that he will maintain the Special Committee on Regional Balanced Development and the National Integration Committee throughout his term, operating the government under the motto of "The Era of Local Regions."

On the same day, at a meeting of the Special Committee on Regional Balanced Development held at the transition office in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Yoon said, "I will continue to maintain the Special Committee on Regional Balanced Development and the National Integration Committee during my term and rely heavily on the activities of these committees."

He stated, "I believe that the breakthrough for local development lies in decentralization, autonomy, independence, and financial independence of local governments," and added, "The issue we are currently facing, which is very serious yet not fully felt, is the low birthrate problem. It is the two sides of the same coin with aging, but it is a very serious problem that hinders economic growth."

He continued, "Simply solving problems such as jobs, housing, and parental career interruptions does not necessarily resolve the low birthrate issue. Experts have concluded that this is not the case," and said, "Experts believe that unless the structure where everyone concentrates in the metropolitan area and competes desperately is changed through balanced regional development, the low birthrate problem cannot be solved."

President-elect Yoon emphasized, "National development ultimately lies in local development," but also said, "Not all regions need to develop at the same pace just because it is balanced development."

He further requested, "All regions should have fair opportunities and find their own driving force for development, and I ask you to deeply consider what role the central government should play in this."

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