Gwangyang City Secures Record High National and Provincial Funding of 557.3 Billion Won

298 Billion KRW (5.6%) Increase Compared to 2022

Gwangyang Port~Yulchon Industrial Complex Connecting Road, Hydrogen Supply Shared Infrastructure Construction, etc.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seonsik] Gwangyang City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Jeong Inhwa) announced on the 27th that it secured the largest-ever national and provincial budget of 557.3 billion KRW by reflecting national and provincial funds in the 2023 government budget, which was approved and finalized at the National Assembly plenary session on the 24th.

Despite the government's sound fiscal policy, the amount increased by 29.8 billion KRW (5.6%) from 527.5 billion KRW in 2022, including numerous projects such as ‘activation of Gwangyang Port, fostering new industries, large-scale SOC projects, development of stay-type tourism industry, creation of a pleasant urban environment, and improvement of residential conditions,’ laying a foothold for future core municipal administration.

In particular, although not reflected in the government budget proposal, a total of 1 billion KRW was added during the National Assembly budget review process for ▲pre-feasibility study service fee of the Gwangyang Port~Yulchon Industrial Complex connecting road project (300 million KRW), ▲feasibility study service fee for establishing shared hydrogen supply infrastructure in Yeosu and Gwangyang (300 million KRW), ▲detailed design fee for the renovation project of aged water supply network in Gwangyang-eup (200 million KRW), and ▲feasibility study service fee for building an international (organic) agricultural food export platform (200 million KRW). This achievement was made possible through the full efforts of Mayor Jeong Inhwa and related officials in responding to the National Assembly budget review.

Mayor Jeong Inhwa, Vice Mayor Joo Soonseon, and related officials visited central government departments and the National Assembly multiple times to secure national budget, continuously explaining and persuading key figures such as Budget and Accounts Committee Chairman Woo Won-sik, Budget and Accounts Committee members Park Jeong, Lee Cheol-gyu, Yoon Young-duk, Kim Du-kwan, Jo Su-jin, Joo Cheol-hyun, Lee Su-jin, Jeong Un-cheon, Jeonnam region National Assembly members Seo Dong-yong, Kim Seung-nam, Kim Hoe-jae, Shin Jeong-hoon, Seo Sam-seok, Yoon Jae-gap, Lee Gae-ho, Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee Chairman Hong Ik-pyo, National Assembly member Choi Seung-jae, and senior officials of the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Looking at the major projects by sector, they are as follows.

□ Establishing growth engines through strengthening infrastructure such as ports and new industries

Major new projects

▲Pre-feasibility study service fee of the Gwangyang Port~Yulchon Industrial Complex connecting road project (total 311.8 billion KRW) 300 million KRW

Expected to greatly contribute to the activation of Gwangyang Port by increasing cargo volume and reducing logistics costs between Yulchon Industrial Complex, Sepung Industrial Complex, Hwanggeum Industrial Complex, Gwangyang-Yeosu National Industrial Complex, and Gwangyang Port.

▲Feasibility study service fee for establishing shared hydrogen supply infrastructure in Yeosu and Gwangyang (total 250 billion KRW) 300 million KRW

This project aims to build a hydrogen pipeline infrastructure connecting Gwangyang Port↔Yulchon Industrial Complex↔Yeosu Industrial Complex↔Myodo↔POSCO↔Gwangyang Port by 2028 to establish a full-cycle hydrogen industry ecosystem. According to the Yoon Seok-yeol administration’s energy policy, it will foster a clean hydrogen supply chain and the world’s top hydrogen industry, making the Gwangyang Bay area a core hydrogen hub infrastructure in the future.

▲Gwangyang City hydrogen pilot city creation project (total 40 billion KRW) 1.3 billion KRW for basic survey and detailed design

This project aims to build a hydrogen ecosystem from production to utilization within the city, planning to use hydrogen linked to housing, transportation, and regional specialized industries by 2025.

▲Feasibility study service fee for building an international (organic) agricultural food export platform (total 53 billion KRW) 200 million KRW

In response to the global increase in demand for organic food, this project involves creating specialized complexes for organic rice and fruits and vegetables, and establishing export joint logistics complexes, automated storage, sorting, and preprocessing facilities around Gwangyang Port, with a project period until 2027.

Major ongoing projects

▲Gwangyang Port Phase 3-2 automated container terminal testbed construction project (total 691.5 billion KRW) 69 billion KRW

The first fully automated system among domestic ports aiming for efficiency, safety, and eco-friendliness, scheduled for completion in 2026.

□ Advancing as a business-friendly city and expanding large-scale SOC projects

Major new projects

▲Gwangyang National Industrial Complex public wastewater treatment facility maintenance project (total 8 billion KRW) 500 million KRW for detailed design

This project aims to prevent water pollution in the Gwangyang Bay area by renovating 8 km of aged pipelines, 123 manholes, and establishing a pipeline flow monitoring system, with a project period until 2025.

▲Gwangyang (Phase 1) industrial water pipeline renovation project (total 203.1 billion KRW) 6 billion KRW

Expected to greatly contribute to solving industrial water shortages due to factory expansion plans of companies in the industrial complex, scheduled for completion in 2025.

Major ongoing projects

▲Namhaean Southern Central Region Small and Medium Enterprise Training Center construction project (total 29.2 billion KRW) 1.2 billion KRW ▲Gwangyang Bay area materials and components knowledge industry center construction project (total 19.7 billion KRW) 6.1 billion KRW ▲Gwangyang metal materials complex molding testbed construction project (total 13 billion KRW) 1 billion KRW ▲Eco-friendly secondary battery recycling testbed construction project (total 23.3 billion KRW) 4 billion KRW ▲Gwangyang Station~Sepung Industrial Complex internal arterial road construction project (total 30.9 billion KRW) 3 billion KRW ▲Gwangyang Port back road expansion and paving construction (total 22.8 billion KRW) 2.2 billion KRW, etc., securing infrastructure to revitalize the industrial complex and become a business-friendly city.

Also, securing ▲Gwangyang Port back area expansion support project (total 99.2 billion KRW) 6.2 billion KRW and ▲North side back area development project (total 33.4 billion KRW) 1.1 billion KRW to convert Sepung Industrial Complex Phase 1 into a port back area, enabling long-term leasing at low cost, which is expected to facilitate domestic and foreign corporate investment attraction.

Large-scale SOC projects secured include ▲Gyeongjeon Line electrification project between Jinju and Gwangyang scheduled for completion in 2023 (total 239.5 billion KRW) 6 billion KRW ▲Namdo 2nd Bridge construction project (total 19.8 billion KRW) 2.5 billion KRW ▲Seomjingang Yeongho-nam complex transfer park creation project (total 18 billion KRW) 3.1 billion KRW ▲Junggu~Jinsang local road expansion and paving construction (total 109.1 billion KRW) 9.2 billion KRW ▲National Road No. 2 Se-seung IC intersection improvement project (total 2 billion KRW) 500 million KRW ▲Jinwol~Gwangyeong local road expansion and paving construction (total 67.8 billion KRW) 12 billion KRW, accelerating large-scale SOC projects.

□ Development of future tourism resources and expansion of sports infrastructure

Major new projects

▲Sarasil Art Village~Wine Cave tourism attraction project (total 1.6 billion KRW) 100 million KRW for detailed design

Secured to strengthen the connection between Sarasil Art Village and Wine Cave, enhancing small-scale tourism industry.

▲Gwangyang City Taein Sports Park creation project (total 1.8 billion KRW) 500 million KRW for detailed design ▲Eastern region park golf course creation project (total 1 billion KRW) 300 million KRW for design, expected to contribute to the activation of community sports.

Major ongoing projects

Linked with the private investment project of Gubongsan Tourist Complex in the Gubongsan area, securing ▲Gubongsan area tourism hub creation project (total 19.5 billion KRW) 800 million KRW ▲Public Gwangyang specialized science museum construction (total 43.3 billion KRW) 700 million KRW ▲Gwangyang City sports climbing facility installation construction (total 6.5 billion KRW) 800 million KRW, ensuring steady progress of children’s theme park and Gubongsan area tourism industry.

Also secured are ▲Baealdo waterfront Heroes Park creation project (total 4.8 billion KRW) 1.9 billion KRW ▲Yi Sun-sin Bridge beach tourism theme street creation project (total 14 billion KRW) 900 million KRW ▲Seomjingang Mangdeok Port and Baekdudaegan terminus tourism attraction project (total 29.5 billion KRW) 800 million KRW ▲Haevichi-ro Samhwa Island tourism attraction project (total 5.5 billion KRW) 500 million KRW ▲Baegunsan area four major valleys tourism attraction project (total 9 billion KRW) 400 million KRW ▲Baegunsan forest welfare complex creation (total 15 billion KRW) 700 million KRW ▲Baegunsan forest museum construction (total 6 billion KRW) 1 billion KRW, accelerating expansion of future tourism resource infrastructure.

▲Gwangyang City all-weather track training ground roof installation construction (total 2.6 billion KRW) 500 million KRW ▲Gwangyang City Seonghwang Neighborhood Park sports facility creation construction (total 1.8 billion KRW) 400 million KRW, ensuring steady progress of sports facility expansion projects.

□ Improving residential conditions to enhance citizens’ quality of life

Major new projects

▲Jeonnam public postpartum care center construction project (total 12.6 billion KRW) 4 billion KRW

Scheduled to open in 2024, it will be built on a site near the Mirae Women’s Clinic in Jungma-dong, with four floors above ground and a total floor area of 2,409㎡, including 15 maternity rooms, multiple birth rooms, and negative pressure rooms.

It plans to proactively respond to the influx of young population due to large-scale investment attraction and urban development and become a key public postpartum care center in eastern Jeonnam through active administrative and financial support.

▲Gwangyang-eup Dong·Seocheon confluence urban ecological axis restoration project (total 8 billion KRW) 800 million KRW

This project restores wetlands on riverbed sites and creates ecological experience zones and trails, expected to restore natural ecological functions and habitats for wild flora and fauna at the confluence of Dong and Seocheon in Gwangyang-eup, with a project period until 2025.

▲Gwangyang-eup aged water supply network renovation project (total 6 billion KRW) 200 million KRW for detailed design

This project replaces aged water pipelines to prevent repeated water outages and leaks from Yudang Park in Gwangyang-eup to Yonggang Water Purification Plant, ensuring stable water supply.

Additionally, securing ▲Expansion of vocational rehabilitation facilities for the disabled (total 2.1 billion KRW) 700 million KRW for detailed design ▲Slope collapse risk zone maintenance project at three sites (total 10 billion KRW) 500 million KRW ▲Living water expansion projects (Jinsang and Daap districts) (total 9.8 billion KRW) 500 million KRW ▲Agricultural small business complex space creation project (total 2 billion KRW) 800 million KRW, expected to contribute to improving citizens’ quality of life.

Major ongoing projects

▲Seonghwang·Jungma urban ecological axis restoration project (total 8 billion KRW) 1.1 billion KRW ▲Okgok Singum district comprehensive flood damage living zone maintenance project (total 49.3 billion KRW) 2.8 billion KRW ▲Jinsang Tanchi disaster risk zone maintenance project (total 6.8 billion KRW) 900 million KRW ▲Gwangyang-eup rural central area revitalization project (total 16 billion KRW) 4.4 billion KRW ▲Geumho-dong urban regeneration recognition project (total 15 billion KRW) 3 billion KRW ▲Gwangyeong-dong urban regeneration New Deal project (total 25 billion KRW) 3.2 billion KRW ▲Urban wind path forest creation project (total 20 billion KRW) 4.5 billion KRW, expected to greatly improve citizens’ residential conditions.

Gwangyang City secured large-scale national projects and pending projects that will drive city development in 2023 as well as this year, reflecting them in the national and provincial budgets, securing both stability and momentum for municipal administration.

Mayor Jeong Inhwa said, “This achievement was the result of our full efforts to secure national and provincial funds for the 8th elected term’s era of inspiration and warm Gwangyang construction, and the strong network and experience formed during my time as a National Assembly member were a great help.”

He added, “With the foundation for Gwangyang’s growth established through securing budget for Gwangyang Port activation, large-scale SOC projects, new industries such as secondary batteries, tourism infrastructure projects, and residential condition improvement projects, we will actively promote this to citizens and strive to create a happy Gwangyang where all citizens prosper.”

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seonsik hss79@asiae.co.kr

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