Pohang City Hosts Communication Forum Inviting Provincial Assembly Members to Address Local Issues and Create a Safe City

Roadmap for Creating a Safe City, Discussing Local Issues Requiring Consensus with Citizens

Securing Maximum Provincial Funding Next Year for Typhoon Damage Recovery and Regional Economic Revitalization

Pohang City Hall.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] On the 26th, Pohang City held a ‘Provincial Assembly Members Invitation Communication Meeting’ in the city hall’s main conference room to secure provincial funds for resolving local issues and to create a city safe from natural disasters.

The meeting was attended by Mayor Kang-deok Lee, Vice Chairman Yong-seon Park of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Assembly, and all local provincial assembly members. It was the first meeting held since the launch of the 8th elected administration and the 12th Gyeongbuk Provincial Assembly, aimed at discussing pressing local issues and seeking solutions together.

First, Nam-jin Kim, Director of the Urban and Marine Bureau, explained the roadmap for promoting the creation of a safe city, outlining key strategies for building disaster infrastructure based on new standards, including ▲ installation of a bypass large drainage tunnel on the outskirts of the city ▲ expansion of urban retention ponds and reinforcement of rainwater pump station functions ▲ installation of floodwalls in coastal flood risk areas and river tributary areas ▲ construction of Hangsa Dam ▲ maintenance of the Hyeongsan River as a national river ▲ establishment of a comprehensive district unit restoration plan for river areas, explaining the phased implementation strategies.

Next, Kyung-won Jeong, Director of the Administration and Safety Bureau, explained local projects requiring public consensus such as ▲ designation of the region for proactive response to industrial crises ▲ construction of the Pohang-Yeongdeok Expressway ▲ approval for establishing a research-centered medical school at POSTECH ▲ implementation of the agreement to locate POSCO Holdings in Pohang ▲ construction of Pohang Memorial Park ▲ creation of a new comprehensive resource recycling town.

Along with this, major projects for securing provincial funds in 2023 were explained, including ▲ construction of a public parking tower at Hwanho Park ▲ construction of an arcade at Ocheon Market ▲ new construction of the Sangdae-dong senior citizens’ center ▲ construction of the Pohang multipurpose sports center ▲ creation of a coexistence street forest along Hope Road in Daei-dong ▲ establishment of a smart farm rental vertical farm ▲ widening and paving of Songra City Road Line 9 (Daejeon-ri, Josa-ri sections). They requested efforts to ensure maximum reflection of next year’s provincial funds.

During the Q&A session, discussions continued on fundamental disaster prevention measures.

Due to Pohang’s regional characteristics as a coastal industrial city, heavy rain during high tide can cause large-scale disasters from river flooding. Despite being a hub for the steel industry, a national key industry, Pohang is located on the typhoon path, causing varying degrees of damage annually. Therefore, there was consensus that establishing a disaster prevention system in Pohang should be recognized as a national project.

Accordingly, it was agreed to unite efforts to promote the city’s transformation into a safe city through direct national projects such as enacting special laws with the government and political parties.

It was also agreed that fundamental damage prevention measures are necessary as people who were relocated en masse during the establishment of POSCO and the national industrial complex in 1973 suffer from frequent flooding damage. If permanent disaster prevention is impossible, a national-level mass relocation plan should be established.

Vice Chairman Yong-seon Park said, “Based on active cooperation with Pohang City, we will do our utmost to secure maximum provincial funds next year for the prompt return to daily life of citizens and for a safe Pohang.”

Mayor Kang-deok Lee also said, “I appreciate the support and efforts for the recovery from the recent typhoon damage. We will continue to do our best to solve local issues and create a safe Pohang from wind and flood disasters through an organic cooperative system with Gyeongbuk Province.”

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