Mayor Yook Donghan of Chuncheon Holds Successive Meetings with National Assembly Budget Committee and Ministry of Industry, Mobilizes Full Efforts for 26.4 Billion Won in National Funding

Mayor Yook Donghan Holds Consecutive Meetings with Chairman Han Byungdo and Others
Emphasizes Need for 26.4 Billion Won in National Funding for Nine Key Projects, Including R&D Special Zone
Chairman Han Byungdo: "Fully Recognize the Urgency of Regional Issues... Will Actively Review"

Yook Donghan, Mayor of Chuncheon, visited the National Assembly on the 21st to meet with Han Byungdo, Chairman of the National Assembly Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, in an effort to persuade him to increase next year's national budget allocation and to include key pending issues.

Yook Donghan, Mayor of Chuncheon, visited the National Assembly on the 21st to meet with Han Byungdo, Chairman of the National Assembly Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, delivering a request for an increase in next year's national budget and the reflection of major pending issues. Provided by Chuncheon City

On this day, Mayor Yook met with Chairman Han Byungdo of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts and directly explained the progress of major projects in the Chuncheon area, requesting support at the National Assembly level. Earlier, on the 3rd, Mayor Yook had also met with members of the Special Committee to explain the feasibility of these key projects. As the National Assembly's budget review enters its final stage, Chuncheon City plans to secure the previously allocated budget and continue to obtain additional national funding for major projects through this meeting with Chairman Han.

The main proposals include: 9.6 billion won for the development of the Research and Development Special Zone; 3.5 billion won for design costs for the Soyang 8th Bridge construction; 1.5 billion won to support the 2026 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships; 300 million won to support the 2026 Chuncheon Korea Open International Taekwondo Championships; 1 billion won for service fees to establish a circular landfill facility in Chuncheon; 2.3 billion won for the establishment of a digital lab-on-a-chip commercialization platform; 2.3 billion won for building an antigen-antibody material bank to foster small and medium-sized CDMOs; 1.7 billion won for the establishment of an animal alternative testing demonstration support center; and 4.2 billion won for an AI-based diabetes and kidney disease biomarker development project. In total, there are nine projects amounting to 26.4 billion won.

Mayor Yook also met with Kim Jeonggwan, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy; Lee Cheolgyu, Chairman of the National Assembly Industry Committee; Kim Daesik, member of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts; and Heo Young, National Assembly member, to emphasize the feasibility of the projects and the urgency of securing national funding. In addition, he conveyed the necessity of these projects to Im Woogeun, Senior Specialist of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, who oversees the practical review of the budget, and exchanged in-depth opinions.

So far, National Assembly members Heo Young and Han Giho have worked in cooperation with Chuncheon City from the standing committee stage to secure national funding for key projects. In addition, Special Committee members Heo Seongmu, Choi Hyeongdu, and Song Giheon, along with Mayor Yook Donghan, have continued ongoing consultations to resolve regional issues.

In particular, Mayor Yook strongly requested that the 9.6 billion won budget for the Gangwon Research and Development Special Zone, to be increased under the Ministry of Science and ICT budget, be included without fail. Since Chuncheon is about to be designated as a special zone by actively reflecting special provisions in the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Act, there is broad consensus that Chuncheon should play a key role.

The Soyang 8th Bridge construction project is a core infrastructure initiative for connecting the northern region of Gangwon Province and promoting balanced development in border areas. The 2026 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships is also a major event to enhance Chuncheon's international status as a Taekwondo hub. Additionally, the establishment of a digital lab-on-a-chip commercialization platform will provide essential infrastructure to support product commercialization and quality advancement for small and medium-sized bio companies.

During the meeting, Mayor Yook stated, "Chuncheon is the optimal place to demonstrate the driving force of national balanced development as a reality," and added, "We will develop Chuncheon into a future-leading city model."

Chairman Han Byungdo responded, "I fully understand the necessity and urgency of these regional issues," and said, "We will actively consult with relevant ministries and carefully review them during the deliberation process."

The National Assembly Special Committee on Budget and Accounts plans to finalize next year's budget bill through the Budget Adjustment Subcommittee and a plenary session by the 24th.

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