Gyeongbuk Governor Lee Cheolwoo Meets Deputy Prime Minister Koo Yoonchul, Requests Special Support for "Post-APEC" Initiatives

Calls for Enactment of Special Law on Wildfire Damage

On August 7, Lee Cheolwoo, Governor of Gyeongbuk Province, met with Deputy Prime Minister for Economy Koo Yoonchul at the Government Complex Seoul and requested central government funding for four key national investment projects to ensure a sustainable future for Gyeongbuk. These projects include the successful hosting of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, special post-APEC support, the enactment of a special law for wildfire damage and prompt recovery assistance, the development of Yeongilman Port as a complex port and Arctic route hub, and the state-led construction of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport.

Governor Lee first proposed measures for the successful hosting of the 2025 APEC Summit and post-APEC initiatives. He emphasized that creating the right atmosphere is crucial for a successful APEC Summit and requested that the government and public institutions actively promote the event within their respective fields.

Lee Cheolwoo, Governor of Gyeongbuk Province (right), is taking a commemorative photo after meeting with Deputy Prime Minister for Economy Koo Yoonchul to propose current projects.

He also stressed the need for national support for post-APEC projects so that Gyeongju in Gyeongbuk can grow into a world-class city of culture and history, leveraging the legacy of a successful APEC Summit.

In particular, he cited the example of the Vladivostok APEC (APEC 2012), which fostered an international investment network in the Far East through the Eastern Economic Forum and promoted foreign investment. He outlined a vision to establish a global network for cultural industry investment through the "World Gyeongju Forum," modeled after the Davos Forum in the field of culture and history, with the goal of elevating Korea into a global cultural powerhouse.

Additionally, he called for strong government interest and support to help Gyeongju in Gyeongbuk become one of the world's top ten cultural tourism cities. This includes creating an APEC Memorial Park to continue the legacy of the successful summit and undertaking a major renovation of Bomun Tourist Complex, Korea's first designated tourist area, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

Next, he highlighted the need for central government support for the enactment of a special law for wildfire damage and for funding the logging of damaged trees and other recovery efforts. These measures aim to stabilize the lives of residents and restore the economy in large wildfire-affected areas, thereby addressing the risk of population and community decline and enabling more efficient forest management.

He also announced plans to establish a "National Integrated Disaster Response Training Institute," where civil, public, military, and police organizations can conduct realistic disaster response drills to better respond to frequent disasters such as wildfires, extreme rainfall, and landslides. In addition, he proposed the construction of a "Forest Biomass Power Plant" that utilizes forest by-products such as wildfire-damaged trees, aiming to achieve both eco-friendly energy transition and regional economic revitalization.

Above all, he expressed a strong determination to turn wildfire damage into an opportunity for transformation?reviving disappearing villages into vibrant communities and turning unproductive mountains into profitable resources.

He also proposed projects to foster Yeongilman Port in Pohang as a key gateway for the New Northern Economy in preparation for the opening of the Arctic route. Major proposals include the development of Yeongilman Port as a complex port, the establishment of an international passenger terminal in Pohang, and the construction of the Yeongilman Expressway to dramatically improve logistics accessibility.

Specifically, regarding Yeongilman Port, he stated plans to expand the currently planned 16-berth mooring facility to 32 berths, doubling its size, and to develop it as a complex energy gateway port for wind power, small modular reactors (SMR), gas, and oil. This would make it the central hub of the Arctic route and the logistics base for the East Coast energy industry.

Finally, he requested the government's active role in expediting the construction of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport. He emphasized the need for public funding to cover costs arising from the relocation of the military airport, financial support for interest and losses incurred through the donation-for-compensation method, and the leading participation of Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) to swiftly resolve project delays. He stressed the urgency of opening the new airport as soon as possible to respond to the era of globalization.

Governor Lee Cheolwoo stated, "These four major projects in Gyeongbuk are core pledges of the new government and essential national projects for Korea's future. The meticulous preparation by Gyeongbuk for these projects will serve as the foundation for Korea to leap forward as a top-tier nation." He expressed strong confidence and requested a positive review from the Ministry of Economy and Finance and budget support for 2026.

Meanwhile, on August 1, Governor Lee also made proposals regarding APEC, the special law for wildfire damage, the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport, and the development of Yeongilman Port as a complex port at a meeting of provincial governors hosted by the Office of the President. In relation to APEC, he proposed holding a peace summit involving Korea, the United States, and North Korea, suggesting a "Gyeongju Big Deal" comparable to the "Hanoi Big Deal," which received strong support from the President and other officials.

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