Yoon Byungtae: "The Revival of Yeongsanpo in Naju... Now Begins Again"

Welcoming the Passage of the "Yeongsanpo-eup Restoration" Bill in the National Assembly
Yeongsanpo-eup at the Heart of Change in Naju's Great Leap Forward

Yoon Byungtae, the Democratic Party candidate for Mayor of Naju, described the passage of the amendment to the Local Autonomy Act at the National Assembly plenary session—which provides the legal basis for integrating Yeonggang-dong, Yeongsan-dong, and Ichang-dong back into "Yeongsanpo-eup"—as "a historic turning point for the resurgence of Yeongsanpo."

On May 7, through his Facebook page, Yoon stated, "This is a meaningful opportunity to restore the prosperity and pride that Yeongsanpo once enjoyed," and added, "I want to express my gratitude and congratulations to all the residents who joined forces for a long time to achieve the transition back to Yeongsanpo-eup."

Yoon Byungtae, the Democratic Party candidate for mayor of Naju City, attended a residents' meeting in the Yeongsanpo area of Naju last year under the theme of 'Restoration of Yeongsanpo-eup.'
[Photo by Yoon Byungtae's Facebook]

He continued, "I deeply thank National Assembly member Shin Jeonghoon, who worked tirelessly from proposing the bill to its passage, always reflecting the voices of the residents."

Yoon also discussed in detail the historical symbolism and the decline of Yeongsanpo.

He explained, "When the Yeongsan River opened to the sea, Yeongsanpo was the largest commercial and transportation hub in the Honam region, where goods from all over the country gathered." He went on to say, "However, after the construction of the Yeongsan River estuary bank in 1981, Yeongsanpo lost its port function, and as Geumseong City was promoted, Yeongsanpo-eup was divided into three neighborhoods, which gradually weakened the vitality of the area."

He further emphasized, "The restoration of Yeongsanpo-eup through the amendment to the Local Autonomy Act is not simply an administrative adjustment, but rather a foundation for resurgence beyond stagnation. It will serve as a catalyst for ushering in a new era of prosperity, surpassing the glory of the past."

Panoramic view of Yeongsanpo, Naju. [Photo by Byeongtae Yoon]

He also presented the tangible benefits expected from the restoration of eup status.

Yoon stated, "There will be practical changes such as tax benefits, reduced health insurance premiums, inclusion in rural support projects, and expanded opportunities for students to enter higher education through special admissions for rural students." He added, "These will lead to real improvements in the quality of life for residents."

He continued, "By integrating the Yeongsanpo area—including the Yeongsan River Garden—into a single living sphere, a more systematic foundation for development has been established. Amid the unstoppable momentum of Naju's great leap forward, Yeongsanpo-eup will become the center leading this new wave of change."

In conclusion, Yoon reiterated his commitment to regional revitalization by stating, "The revival of Yeongsanpo is now beginning again."

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