100.2 Billion Won in National Funding Allocated Across Gyeongbuk... Democratic Party Vows "We Will Not Give Up on Gyeongbuk"

One Year Since the December 3 Coup Attempt
Significant Budget Secured for Livelihoods, Industry, and Balanced Regional Development
Key Projects Selected in Pohang, Gumi, Andong, Uiseong, and More
"Central Changes Delivered to Every Corner of Gyeongbuk"

On December 3, the Democratic Party of Korea's Gyeongbuk Provincial Committee announced that 100.2 billion won in funding for Gyeongbuk’s key projects has been included in the 2026 national budget, marking the first anniversary of the thwarted December 3 coup attempt.

Im Mi-ae, Chairperson of the Democratic Party of Korea Gyeongbuk Provincial Party Committee, is responding at a press conference. Photo by Kwon Byung-gun

The Democratic Party stated, "The achievements of the Lee Jae-myung administration's six months of normalizing livelihoods have been confirmed as concrete budget allocations," adding, "This marks a pivotal turning point in establishing Gyeongbuk as a pillar of national development."

Nationwide livelihood policies such as the adjustment of the basic living security standard, expansion of child allowances, introduction of youth future savings and transportation passes, and expanded elderly care have also been included in this budget, which is expected to enhance the sense of impact among local residents. The Gyeongbuk Provincial Committee explained, "The expansion of local love gift certificates, basic income, and local fiscal autonomy are policy achievements that strengthen the foundation for the self-reliance of local and rural areas."

◆ Pohang, Gumi, Andong, Uiseong, and More... "Balanced Investment Across Gyeongbuk"

In Pohang, 35 billion won has been allocated for the Pohang-Yeongdeok Expressway, 15.1 billion won for local industry crisis response secondary compensation, and 4 billion won for the Steel AI Convergence Demonstration Hub, raising expectations for the recovery of the steel belt’s competitiveness.

For Gumi, 1.5 billion won has been allocated for a semiconductor chamber material and component testbed, 3 billion won for a battery testbed, and 2.5 billion won for a feasibility study on the Gumi-Gunwi Expressway.

Andong will receive 200 million won for the 100th anniversary Independence Movement Expo commemorating the June 10th Manse Movement, while Gyeongju will get 670 million won for future automobile safety technology infrastructure. Uiseong will receive 2.1 billion won for an integrated food support center and 750 million won for an unused forest biomass center.

Bonghwa, Yeongyang, Gimcheon, Sangju, Yeongcheon, Cheongsong, Yeongdeok, and Uljin have also been allocated funds for ecological, agricultural, disaster response, and living SOC projects, leading to evaluations that this constitutes "balanced development encompassing all of Gyeongbuk."

◆ K-Steel Act Passed... "A Decisive Turning Point for Restructuring Pohang’s Steel Industry"

The Democratic Party also highly praised the recently passed "K-Steel Act" in the National Assembly. By designating the steel industry as a national strategic industry, R&D, eco-friendly transition, supply chain stabilization, and protection of partner companies have become possible, signaling the start of structural changes in the Pohang steel belt.

The Gyeongbuk Provincial Committee stated, "This is a historic measure to shift the aging steel ecosystem to a future-oriented industrial structure," adding, "The effect will be maximized when linked with Pohang’s regional projects."

◆ "The Local Elections Are the Starting Point for Gyeongbuk’s Great Transformation"... Democratic Party to Go All-Out

With six months left until the local elections in June next year, the Democratic Party defined today’s achievements as "the real driving force for Gyeongbuk’s great transformation."

Im Mi-ae, Chairperson of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Committee, stated, "The essence of the local elections is to ensure that changes at the center flow thoroughly to every corner of Gyeongbuk," and pledged, "We will see through the restoration of democracy and the normalization of local livelihoods to the end."

She also emphasized, "The forces that attempted the coup are still engaging in obstruction without remorse," and added, "The local elections are a process to achieve complete liquidation of the coup attempt and a new leap forward for Gyeongbuk."

"With the Democratic Party now launching full-fledged political and economic strategies for all of Gyeongbuk based on this secured budget, next year’s local elections are expected to unfold as an intense competition centered around the major axis of ‘regional restructuring.’"

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