President Lee: "We Must Seriously Consider Creating a Massive Economic Zone by Integrating North and South Chungcheong and Daejeon"

On March 13, President Lee Jaemyung stated, "Residents of North and South Chungcheong Provinces, as well as Daejeon, should seriously consider whether to integrate and create a single, massive economic zone and administrative system." This was a public mention of the need for a broad Chungcheong region integration, including North Chungcheong, at a time when discussions on administrative integration between Daejeon and South Chungcheong have stalled.

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President Lee made these remarks at the "Listening to the Heart of Chungbuk" town hall meeting held at Osco in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, on the afternoon of March 13. He said, "Regional integration is inevitable at some point," and added, "You should also consider whether to integrate North and South Chungcheong and Daejeon to create one massive economic zone and administrative system. Of course, the quality of our immediate daily lives is important, but we must also seriously consider how the next generation will settle in the region, enjoy opportunities, and build a region with global competitiveness."

President Lee cited the limitations of the single-centered metropolitan structure as the background for discussions on Chungcheong region integration. He explained, "The biggest problem in Korea is that the areas where people congregate have excellent infrastructure, education, culture, residential conditions, and employment opportunities, but other regions are left behind simply because they are considered provincial. Balanced national development is not just a matter of fairness; if things continue this way, it will be difficult to sustain national growth."

He also revisited the issue of housing prices in the Seoul metropolitan area, saying, "Although Seoul apartment prices have slightly declined due to my efforts, there are still places where the price per pyeong exceeds 200 million won. In Chungbuk, however, there are places where you can buy an entire apartment for 200 million or 300 million won."

He continued, "Currently, Korea is centered around a single metropolitan area, but the goal is to shift to a five-center system. We want to enable the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam area, Honam, Daegu-Gyeongbuk, and Chungcheong to develop on an equal footing with the metropolitan area." He emphasized, "As national borders are breaking down and international competition is now focused on cities, expanding and super-sizing local regions has become the trend of the times to enhance urban competitiveness."

President Lee specifically mentioned the recent halt in integration discussions between Daejeon and South Chungcheong, raising the question of the future direction for regional development in North Chungcheong. He said, "I thought it was great when I heard Daejeon and South Chungcheong were planning to integrate, but now the process has come to an abrupt stop. Nevertheless, regional integration is inevitable," he asserted. He added, "The time will come when North Chungcheong must decide whether to continue on its own path or take a different direction."

Yonhap News Agency

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President Lee also pointed out that North Chungcheong, as a region adjacent to the Seoul metropolitan area, is shouldering various burdens. He said, "I've heard rumors that people here are quite upset about the recent landfill issue. As the Seoul metropolitan area struggles to handle its waste, it seems much of it is being sent to neighboring regions like North Chungcheong and Gangwon." He continued, "I also heard that many transmission lines pass through this area. While North Chungcheong bears significant burdens related to national development and public demand, it is often deprived of opportunities, which likely leads to a strong sense of relative deprivation. We will address these issues one by one."

President Lee introduced himself as "Chungbuk's son-in-law in name, at least," highlighting his connection to the region. He said, "Not long ago, I visited Daesogang-ri, Sancheok-myeon, Chungju, with my wife, and the local residents were very welcoming." The event was held under the theme, "Chungbuk: The Center of Korea's Leap Forward into Advanced and Bio Industries."

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