Gwangju City and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Collaborate to Develop Regional Development Plans

Holding of the Regional Balanced Development Council Meeting

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Gwangju Metropolitan City and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport have come together to devise plans for the development of Gwangju.

Gwangju City announced that it held a council meeting with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on the 15th to discuss regional balanced development.

Attendees included Moon Seongyo, Director General of the Land and Urban Office at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport; Jang Sunjae, Head of Regional Policy Division; Kim Gitaek, Director of Regional Cooperation Bureau at Iksan Regional Land Management Office; and city executives.

This regional council meeting was the second held following the one in Busan on the 30th of last month. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport leads the process of gathering field opinions and serves as a channel for discovering and promoting national policies.

At the meeting, Gwangju City proposed local issues and engaged in in-depth discussions with the Ministry to resolve these challenges.

The projects for which Gwangju City requested support include: ▲ Establishment of Gwangju Future Automobile National Industrial Complex ▲ Expansion of national treasury support for congested roads ▲ Proposal for metropolitan railway network construction (Naju, Hwasun) ▲ Demand for inclusion of metropolitan road network (5th phase) implementation plan ▲ Exemption from preliminary feasibility study and early commencement of Gwangju-Daegu Dalbit High-Speed Railway ▲ Administrative support for Gwangju Station Urban Regeneration Innovation District as a national pilot district ▲ Expansion of Gwangju Station functions as a transportation hub ▲ Expansion of Seoul-Gwangju and Gwangju-Busan expressways, totaling eight core projects leading regional development.

In particular, the Gwangju Future Automobile National Industrial Complex project aims to create a specialized complex for future-oriented automobile materials, parts, and equipment on approximately 33.23 million square meters (1 million pyeong) near the Bitgreen Industrial Complex. Gwangju City is preparing to revitalize the local economy and become a future-oriented mobility leading city.

In this regard, Gwangju City proposed that the establishment of the Gwangju Future Automobile Industrial Complex as a national industrial complex is essential to create a leading space, which is a core of the current government's pledge to lead future mobility cities.

Furthermore, during a visit to the Gwangju Station Urban Regeneration Innovation District site, where a support system for startup companies at different growth stages is being established to secure new growth engines in the declining Gwangju Station area, the city requested, “Please actively support the realization of the largest startup valley in the Honam region to successfully carry out the project.”

In response, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport expressed agreement with the purpose of the urban regeneration innovation district project aimed at fostering Gwangju Station area as a hub for innovative growth and pledged to support its smooth progress. The Ministry also stated it would actively review various other proposals, listening to and empathizing with the region’s difficulties.

Moon Seongyo, Director General of the Land and Urban Office, stated, “When the government properly supports policy projects promoted by the region, tangible balanced development results can be achieved,” adding, “We will listen more closely to regional opinions and develop policies based on regional demands.”

Moon Younghun, Deputy Mayor, said, “We request active support from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for the core projects that will lead the future regional development of Gwangju,” and added, “Through the regional council, we hope to accelerate regional development and that Gwangju, the land of opportunity, can be actively utilized as a hub with access in all directions.”

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