Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok Proposes Regional Issues at the People Power Party Budget Policy Meeting

Emphasizing Mirae Cheomdan Sojae National Industrial Complex, National Medical University, and Semiconductor Specialized Complex

Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok actively requested party-level cooperation and support for regional issues and national budget support for 2024 through the 'People Power Party-Honam Region Budget Policy Council' held at Gwangju Metropolitan City Hall on the 14th.

At the council meeting, Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok, People Power Party Leader Kim Ki-hyun, Policy Committee Chairman Park Dae-chul, Supreme Council Member Kim Ga-ram, Jeonnam Party Chairman Kim Hwa-jin, Budget Committee Secretary Song Eon-seok, Budget Committee Member Lee Yong-ho, along with metropolitan leaders from the Honam region, attended.

Party Leader Kim Ki-hyun stated, “We will actively support the development of advanced strategic industries such as Jeonnam’s aerospace industry, bio, and renewable energy,” and added, “We will continuously expand the lacking social overhead capital (SOC) infrastructure such as high-speed rail and highway construction, and modernization of shipping ports.”

In response, Governor Kim Young-rok said, “During the first year of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, there was a strong will for regional development and efforts to fulfill presidential pledges, and we will actively cooperate so that Jeonnam can lead the opening of the local era.”

Regarding the creation of the Gwangyang Bay Future Advanced Materials National Industrial Complex, he said, “We are coordinating investment attraction with 86 advanced materials companies including secondary battery anchor companies, hydrogen, and functional chemicals, but since the existing industrial complex has a 97% occupancy rate, it is difficult to provide industrial land to companies wishing to move in,” and added, “Support is needed so that the ‘Future Advanced Materials Industrial Complex’ in the Suncheon-Gwangyang area, along with 15 industrial complexes included in the ‘National Advanced Industrial Complex Development Strategy,’ can be added to the national industrial complex development plan.”

Regarding the establishment of a national medical school in Jeonnam, he requested, “Please support the establishment of the Jeollanam-do National Medical School to alleviate medical disparities between regions and resolve the shortage of doctors in vulnerable areas.”

Regarding the designation of the Gwangju-Jeonnam semiconductor specialized complex, he said, “Gwangju and Jeonnam are the only regions nationwide where RE100 can be realized, and we are actively promoting the attraction of the semiconductor specialized complex, the first Gwangju-Jeonnam win-win project,” and appealed, “Please actively work to attract the ‘semiconductor specialized complex,’ which is the earnest wish of 3.5 million city and provincial residents, to Gwangju and Jeonnam.”

Regarding stable support for the Korea Energy Engineering University, he stated, “Korea Energy Engineering University aims to be the world’s top energy-specialized university and is preparing the foundation such as professional manpower and facilities. Currently, 80% of the excellent students enrolled nationwide are from other regions such as the metropolitan area,” and emphasized, “Stable financial support is necessary so that Korea Energy Engineering University can establish itself as a hub of the national energy industry.”

Regarding the construction of the Gwangju-Yeongam-Mokpo Autobahn, he said, “If Jeonnam’s Autobahn extends from Yeongam to Mokpo via a sea bridge, it will become a representative tourist attraction of Korea, attracting tourists worldwide like Germany’s Autobahn, and will be a groundbreaking opportunity for the development of the southwest region,” and requested full support.

Regarding the revitalization of Muan International Airport and the simultaneous relocation of Gwangju civilian and military airports, he emphasized, “Now, government ministries including the Ministry of National Defense should actively engage in the simultaneous relocation of Gwangju civilian and military airports,” and stressed, “It is necessary to actively support the inclusion of exemption regulations for preliminary feasibility studies on support projects for evacuees and relocation areas in related laws.”

Other policy issues presented included ▲ revitalization of Muan International Airport and simultaneous relocation of Gwangju civilian and military airports ▲ relocation of public institutions such as the Central Agricultural and Fisheries Cooperatives to Jeonnam ▲ rapid enactment of the ‘Offshore Wind Power Special Act’ ▲ legislative promotion to expand taxation on local resource facility tax.

For projects to be reflected in next year’s government budget, requests were made to promote Jeonnam’s future agricultural life convergence projects, including ▲ creation of an AI advanced agricultural convergence zone ▲ establishment of a K-Kimchi industry cluster ▲ establishment of a Local Food Promotion Center (a center affiliated with the Korean Food Promotion Institute).

Additionally, to lay the foundation for future strategic industries through new growth engines, proposals included ▲ creation of a global hub for advanced bioindustry ▲ establishment of the Solar City carbon-neutral (green convergence) cluster ▲ construction of a space launch vehicle technology commercialization center.

Along with this, to develop the southwest coastal tourism and cultural hub, requests were made for ▲ rapid promotion of the southern region wide-area tourism development project and early expansion of Honam region social overhead capital (SOC) projects such as ▲ Gwangju-Goheung Expressway ▲ inclusion in the national plan of the Jeonnam Triangle circular railway network (Gwangju-Hwasun metropolitan railway, Honam-Namhae connection line, Boseong-Neungju electrification) ▲ exemption from preliminary feasibility study for the Jeolla Line high-speed railway (Iksan-Yeosu).

Other projects currently undergoing preliminary feasibility studies, such as ▲ establishment of the National Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Research Institute ▲ creation of a space launch vehicle industry cluster, were requested to pass the feasibility study early so that national funds can be reflected next year.

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