Honam Regional Council Chairpersons Express Support for Hosting Synchrotron Accelerator in Jeonnam

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[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] The chairpersons of the Honam region's metropolitan councils announced on the 15th that on the 14th, at the Jeonnam Provincial Council, they issued a joint statement supporting the hosting of the 4th generation circular synchrotron radiation accelerator in the Honam region for the future development and growth of Honam.

The statement was jointly signed by Kim Dongchan, Chairperson of the Gwangju Metropolitan Council, Song Seonghwan, Chairperson of the Jeollabuk-do Provincial Council, and Lee Yongjae, Chairperson of the Jeollanam-do Provincial Council.

The chairpersons of the three city and provincial councils in the Honam region expressed a unified view that "to lead national development and become the center of South Korea's future in the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution, which is humanity's new future, the 4th generation circular synchrotron radiation accelerator must be hosted in the Gwangju-Jeonnam Joint Innovation City."

They also emphasized that the Gwangju-Jeonnam Joint Innovation City "has optimal site conditions for accelerator construction, including stable ground, a wide site, AI infrastructure, abundant human resources, and the aggregation of 16 public institutions and energy-related companies including Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) University."

Lee Yongjae, Chairperson of the Jeonnam Provincial Council, stated in the declaration, "If the synchrotron radiation accelerator is established in Jeonnam, it will be a turning point to drastically improve Jeonnam's research and development environment, which is currently among the lowest nationwide. Centered on KEPCO University, which is scheduled to open in 2022, linking Honam region universities and local companies will enhance advanced research capabilities and enable the preemption of future core technologies."

He added, "It will also create a significant opportunity to realize balanced national development in the field of science and technology, as aimed by the Moon Jae-in administration."

In particular, he said, "It will greatly expand the foundation of the national task of the materials, parts, and equipment industry, providing a stepping stone for the core industries of the Honam region?such as Jeonbuk's agricultural bio and carbon industries, Gwangju's AI and automobile industries, and Jeonnam's energy new materials and medical bio industries?to make significant leaps."

Additionally, on the same day, the chairpersons of the three city and provincial councils of Gwangju, Jeonbuk, and Jeonnam jointly issued a statement urging the prompt establishment of the 'National Public Health Medical University' in Jeonbuk.

Jeonnam Province is actively promoting the hosting of the 4th generation circular synchrotron radiation accelerator as its top administrative priority this year, making vigorous proposals to the Blue House, the Prime Minister's Office, and the Ministry of Science and Technology to reflect it in national policy, in connection with KEPCO University.

The synchrotron radiation accelerator is a large-scale national research facility used across all scientific fields, including basic research in chemistry, biology, electricity, and medicine, as well as semiconductor, bio-pharmaceuticals, secondary batteries, ESS, future clean energy, and new material development.

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