Prime Minister Kim Visits Honam Again: "Saemangeum Project Must Succeed"

Prime Minister Kim Minseok stated on the 19th, "Hyundai Motor Group's investment plan in Saemangeum is a significant decision that goes beyond an individual company's investment; it embodies the sharing of South Korea's future growth strategy and the direction for national balanced development," adding, "This is a project that must succeed."

Prime Minister Kim Minseok is giving an opening speech at the 3rd Saemangeum Jeonbuk Grand Innovation TF Meeting held at the Saemangeum Development Authority in Gunsan, Jeonbuk, on the 19th. Photo by Yonhap News

On this day, Prime Minister Kim presided over the 3rd Meeting of the Saemangeum·Jeonbuk Grand Innovation Task Force (TF) at the Saemangeum Development Authority in Gunsan, Jeonbuk, and said, "We have prepared a comprehensive support plan for the Saemangeum project, which includes various policy measures." He continued, "With cooperation between the government and private companies, Saemangeum will soon be reborn as an advanced industrial base for robotics, data centers, hydrogen, and solar power, as well as a strategic stronghold for advancing into the new future." He emphasized once again, "Amid the crisis of concentration in the metropolitan area and regional depopulation, we must create a model case that leads national balanced development."

Prime Minister Kim also noted, "The comprehensive support plan discussed today is just the first step." He urged, "Each ministry must swiftly proceed with revisions to relevant laws and follow-up procedures, and proactively resolve any challenges so that companies can tangibly feel the support." He expressed his appreciation toward Hyundai Motor Group, which has executed the investment, and requested, "Please carry out the planned future investments faithfully, with a spirit of coexistence with the local community, so that there will be no setbacks."

In addition to Prime Minister Kim, attendees at the meeting included Song Miryung, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; Kim Younghoon, Minister of Employment and Labor; Lee Hyungil, First Vice Minister of Strategy and Finance; as well as private sector representatives such as Kim Hongkook, Chairman of Harim Group (Private Chairperson of the Saemangeum Committee), and Shin Seungkyu, Executive Vice President for Energy and Hydrogen Policy at Hyundai Motor Group.

Meanwhile, it is highly likely that Prime Minister Kim will resign from his post shortly after the June 3 nationwide local elections to run for the leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea. As he is expected to compete for party leadership against the current party leader, Jeong Cheongrae, attention is focused on his increased activities in the Honam region to appeal to party members.

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