Kim Han-jong, Jangseong County Governor, Urges Establishment of National Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Research Institute

Published 24 Nov.2022 10:33(KST)

[Jangseong=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Jo Hangyu] Kim Han-jong, the governor of Jangseong County, met with officials from the Korea Development Institute (KDI) and the Ministry of Economy and Finance on the 22nd to request the prompt establishment of the National Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Research Institute.

According to the county on the 24th, Governor Kim Han-jong, along with local lawmaker Lee Gae-ho, and officials from Jeollanam-do and Jangseong County, met with KDI’s Executive Vice President Lee Jong-gyu and Public Investment Management Center Director Kim Hyung-tae to repeatedly urge the swift implementation of the feasibility re-investigation.

He then met with officials from the Ministry of Economy and Finance to deliver a petition signed by Jangseong residents advocating for the establishment of the National Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Research Institute and requested the inclusion of the project in next year’s national budget.

Earlier, on the 26th and 27th of last month, Governor Kim also held meetings with key lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties to propose the prompt progress of the feasibility re-investigation and support for next year’s project budget.

Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases rank as the second leading cause of death in South Korea, following cancer. Due to westernized dietary habits and other factors, the mortality rate from these diseases has been steadily increasing, making government-level research urgent.

The National Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Research Institute will serve as a control tower overseeing research on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and related policy development.

The National Institute of Health under the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency is considering the Jangseong Nano Industrial Complex within the Gwangju Research and Development Special Zone as the project site, and since May, KDI has been conducting a feasibility re-investigation at the request of the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

The county is regarded as the optimal location for establishing the National Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Research Institute.

It is easy to build a bio-medical industry cluster linked with the advanced industrial complex within the Gwangju Research and Development Special Zone, and it is a transportation hub where highways and KTX pass through.

Together with the Osong Advanced Medical Complex in the Chungcheong region and the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Advanced Medical Complex in the Yeongnam region, it is expected to form a triangular belt contributing to balanced national development.

Governor Kim Han-jong said, “I will devote all efforts to ensure that the National Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Research Institute, a long-cherished project of the residents of the county and Jeonnam Province, is established in Jangseong by passing the KDI feasibility re-investigation and securing next year’s budget.”