Naju City Launches National Solidarity Conference for Balanced National Development

[Naju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong] The Jeonnam Naju Citizens' Council announced on the 29th that it held the launching ceremony of the ‘National Coalition Meeting for the Adoption of Ultra-wide National Tasks for National Balanced Development’ (hereinafter referred to as the National Coalition Meeting) at the city hall's main conference room on the 28th.

The launching ceremony was hosted by the Yeongsangang Committee, Geumseongsan Committee, and Mahansa Committee under the Naju Citizens' Council, and jointly organized by the Yeongsangang Revival Network, Bitgoeul River Network, Geumgang Estuary Natural Restoration Promotion Committee, Nakdonggang Estuary Brackish Water Ecological Restoration Council, Hangang Basin Network, and Five Major Rivers Basin Council.

The National Coalition Meeting consists of 360 organizations and civic groups nationwide, including these organizations, metropolitan council special committees, university research institutes, farmers' groups, and fishermen's groups.

Attendees included Kang In-gyu, Mayor of Naju and Standing Co-chairman of the Naju Citizens' Council, Chae Jeong-gi, Standing Co-chairman, Jeon Seung-su, Co-chairman of the Yeongsangang Committee, and Park Joong-hwan, Co-chairman of the Mahansa Committee.

Kim Eok-su, Co-chairman of the National Coalition Meeting, along with Lee Jun-kyung, Co-representative of the Nakdonggang Estuary Brackish Water Ecological Restoration Council, Seo Jae-cheol, Full-time Specialist of the Green Union, and Park Pyeong-su, Standing Representative of the Janghang Wetland Landmine Explosion Accident Countermeasure Committee, delivered statements during the schedule.

Mayor Kang In-gyu said, “The ecological restoration of national estuaries including the Yeongsangang River, the development of the Mahansa historical and cultural zone, and the removal of landmines in rear areas have long been policy issues in society. National balanced development is a key driving force that can achieve national integration, so we will promote public-private cooperation to ensure that the three ultra-wide national tasks are proactively adopted by the Presidential Transition Committee.”

The launching ceremony of the National Coalition Meeting, led by Park Gyu-gyeon, Executive Director of the National Estuary Ecological Restoration Meeting, discussed topics including ecological restoration of national estuaries such as Yeongsangang, Geumgang, Nakdonggang, and Hangang, development of the Mahansa historical and cultural zone in Gwangju, Jeonnam, Jeonbuk, and Chungnam regions, and complete removal of landmines in 36 rear areas including Seoul Umyeonsan, Busan Junglisan, and Naju Geumseongsan, as well as plans for adoption by the 20th Presidential Transition Committee.

First, the national estuary ecological restoration task includes proposals such as ▲ seawater circulation in national estuaries (Yeongsangang and Geumgang) ▲ relocation of intake and pumping stations in brackish water zones of national estuaries ▲ enactment of a special law on national estuary ecological restoration ▲ establishment of national estuary management centers by watershed as national tasks.

This task was preceded by a nationwide discussion meeting for the adoption of national estuary ecological restoration tasks held in November last year.

On the 7th of last month, the ‘National Meeting for the Adoption of National Estuary Ecological Restoration Tasks’ was launched jointly with 317 social organizations nationwide, the Chungnam Provincial Council Geumgang Special Committee, the Jeonnam Provincial Council Climate Crisis Response Special Committee, and farmers and fishermen's groups, and the national task proposals were delivered to major political party presidential candidates.

The rear area landmine removal task focuses on the complete removal of landmines in rear areas where military purposes have disappeared, consisting of ▲ enactment of the Landmine Removal Basic Act ▲ establishment of a dedicated landmine removal organization ▲ transfer of the dedicated landmine removal department from the Ministry of National Defense to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety ▲ adoption of the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS).

Similar to the national estuary ecological restoration, the ‘National Coalition Meeting for the Complete Removal of Landmines in Rear Areas and Adoption as a Presidential National Task,’ composed of 334 civic groups nationwide including the Geumseongsan Committee, held a delivery ceremony of national task proposals to major political party presidential candidates such as the Democratic Party, People Power Party, and Justice Party in front of the National Assembly on the 15th of last month.

The Mahansa historical and cultural zone development and internationalization task includes ▲ excavation, investigation, and research of Mahansa historical and cultural sites ▲ construction of the National Mahansa Historical and Cultural Center ▲ restoration of Mahan royal town (palace site) ▲ creation of the National Mahansa Historical Park ▲ establishment of an international hub complex for Mahansa historical and cultural internationalization as national task proposals.

Jeon Seung-su, Jo Jae-guk, Park Joong-hwan, and Choi Hye-ja, co-chairmen of the National Coalition Meeting, stated, “Policies such as national estuary ecological restoration, rear area landmine removal, and Mahansa historical and cultural zone development are ultra-wide national tasks that the next government must pursue to guarantee the sustainable future of the Republic of Korea, regardless of political party or regional interests. We will do our best to ensure these are adopted as ultra-wide tasks in the national tasks to be finalized by the Presidential Transition Committee next month.”

Naju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong bong2910@asiae.co.kr

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