[6·3 Election] Lee Jongwook: "Jeonnam and Gwangju Should Become a Special City for Public Innovation with a Public Bank and Free Care"

Utilizing 52 Trillion Won Annually for 1% Loans
Six Major Public Policies Including “Zero Caregiving Costs” Proposed

Jongwook Lee, preliminary candidate of the Progressive Party for Jeonnam and Gwangju Special Mayor, has proposed the concept of a “Special City for Public Innovation” centered on essential services such as public finance, care, and energy.

On April 23, at a press conference held in the Gwangju City Council briefing room, Lee stated, “I will turn Jeonnam and Gwangju into a Special City for Public Innovation through an ultra-low-interest public bank and a free care system.”

The six major public policies announced that day include: ▲ the establishment of a public bank, ▲ the construction of a public postpartum care center, ▲ the launch of a public care service corporation, ▲ the establishment of a public electric power sales corporation, ▲ the operation of a public pet care center, and ▲ the creation of a public digital privacy protection center.

Jongwook Lee, preliminary candidate for Jeonnam and Gwangju Special Mayor from the Progressive Party, held a press conference on the 23rd at the briefing room of Gwangju City Council, announcing the '6 Major Public Policies for Jeonnam and Gwangju,' including the establishment of a public bank and the construction of a free care system. Photo by Bohyun Song

Lee explained that the public bank will operate by depositing approximately 52.1 trillion won annually, sourced from the budgets of the local governments of Gwangju and Jeonnam as well as the education offices, to provide low-interest loans at around 1% to small and medium-sized businesses and self-employed workers.

He also pledged to cover the full cost of using the public postpartum care center, and to subsidize the use of private facilities at the regional average cost until the public center is established.

For the care sector, Lee proposed the creation of a public care service corporation to directly employ care workers and establish a free, lifelong care system. He also aims to usher in an era of “zero caregiving costs” by setting up public nursing hospitals in each city, county, and district.

In terms of energy policy, Lee announced plans to use the public electric power sales corporation to purchase electricity directly at wholesale prices for supply to small and medium-sized businesses, and to strengthen an energy system based on RE100.

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