Governor Kim Youngrok Requests National Funding for Key Regional Issues from Deputy Prime Minister

Six Key Proposals Submitted, Including Phase 2 of the Honam High-Speed Railway Project

Jeollanam-do Governor Kim Youngrok is meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yooncheol at the Government Complex Seoul on the morning of the 13th to propose and request cooperation for resolving key projects in Jeonnam Province. Photo by Jeonnam Province

On August 13, Jeollanamdo Governor Kim Youngrok met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yooncheol at the Government Complex Seoul, where he submitted six proposals concerning regional issues. These included securing national funding for Jeonnam’s key projects in 2026 and ensuring the passage of preliminary feasibility studies scheduled for the second half of this year.

This meeting was strategically timed to coincide with the conclusion of the Ministry of Economy and Finance’s key budget deliberations, aiming to maximize the inclusion of Jeonnam’s core projects in next year’s government budget proposal.

Governor Kim emphasized, “Phase 2 of the Honam High-Speed Railway is a central pillar for revitalizing Muan International Airport and innovating tourism and logistics in the southwestern region.” He added, “This project, connecting Gwangju Songjeong to Mokpo, has completed 98% of land compensation, making early completion feasible. To open the entire line by the end of 2026, it is essential to fully allocate the required budget of 131.5 billion won.”

Regarding the ‘K-Disney Project based on Animation and Webtoons,’ he highlighted that it represents a region-led growth model aligned with the government’s goal of becoming one of the world’s top five soft power nations. He explained that 26 companies have already committed to move in, with 50 content companies expected to join by year-end, and requested 1 billion won in design funding to establish a hub for nurturing content talent.

On the Jeolla Line High-Speed Railway, he noted that despite being a key trunk line connecting the Seoul metropolitan area and the Honam region, it remains significantly underdeveloped compared to the Gyeongbu High-Speed Railway. To promote balanced regional development, he requested support for the passage of the preliminary feasibility study and 3 billion won in project funding for 2026.

He also pointed out that although Jeonnam boasts the nation’s largest marine ecological resources and is a treasure trove of maritime history and culture, there are no national-level cultural facilities. He requested support for the passage of the preliminary feasibility study and 5.4 billion won in research funding for the construction of the National Maritime and Fisheries Museum.

In particular, regarding the gim (seaweed) industry, he stated, “Despite being a key national strategic industry with exports of 990 million dollars and a market size exceeding 5 trillion won, there is no dedicated national institution overseeing basic research, processing, and distribution.” He requested 1 billion won in 2026 master plan funding to establish the National Gim Industry Promotion Institute in Jeonnam, the country’s largest gim production and export region, to support the entire cycle from seed development to export marketing. He also asked for support to make Jeonnam the center of the gim industry.

He further requested support to ensure that the ‘AI Advanced Agri-Industrial Complex Project,’ which has been proven economically viable (BC=1.53) according to the Ministry of Agriculture’s feasibility study, is selected as a preliminary feasibility study project.

Governor Kim stated, “The projects proposed this time are foundational for determining Jeonnam’s next 100 years,” and urged the Deputy Prime Minister to ensure that Jeonnam’s key issues are thoroughly reflected in the government’s budget proposal process.

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