Jeonnam Political Leaders Visit Gwangyang Industrial Sites to Share Local Realities

Jeollanam-do Provincial Council Special Committee Conducts On-site Inspection of Steel Industry
Accelerating Policy Support to Overcome the Crisis

Special committee members who attended the on-site inspection for the designation of the "Preemptive Industrial Crisis Response Area" on the 21st / Provided by Jeollanam-do Provincial Council

The Jeollanam-do Provincial Council's Special Committee on Crisis Response for the Petrochemical and Steel Industries in Jeollanam-do (Chairman Choi Moogyeong, Yeosu 4) participated in the on-site inspection for the government's designation of Gwangyang as a Preemptive Industrial Crisis Response Area, which began on October 21. During the inspection, the committee shared the local realities facing the steel industry crisis and actively requested government support.

This on-site inspection was carried out by a joint public-private inspection team composed of officials from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, as well as private sector experts. The final decision on whether to designate the area as a Preemptive Industrial Crisis Response Area will be made by the Industrial Crisis Response Deliberation Committee after its review.

Chairman Choi Moogyeong stated, "Gwangyang is a key industrial hub, responsible for more than one-third of the nation's steel production. The structural crisis in the steel industry could directly impact national competitiveness." He added, "Recently, the region's economy has been rapidly shrinking due to a combination of global oversupply, fluctuations in raw material prices, and high interest rates."

He further noted, "The decline in sales among small and medium-sized partner firms, employment instability, and the outflow of young people are deepening the hollowing-out phenomenon in the region. The government must thoroughly assess these realities and ensure that Gwangyang is designated as a Preemptive Industrial Crisis Response Area."

Vice Chairperson Park Kyungmi pointed out, "Over 90 percent of Gwangyang's economy depends on the steel industry, and the survival of small and medium-sized enterprises is being threatened by the global economic downturn and the influx of low-priced products from China."

She continued, "The voices from the field are not simply requests for support, but urgent appeals for the region's survival. The government should not limit itself to short-term financial support but must develop practical measures."

The Special Committee on Crisis Response for the Petrochemical and Steel Industries in Jeollanam-do stated, "Through this inspection, we hope the government will clearly recognize the region's crisis and shift its policies to support Gwangyang's steel industry at the national level. The Provincial Council will do its utmost to provide institutional support to strengthen regional industrial competitiveness, ensure employment stability, and create a sustainable industrial ecosystem."

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