Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok's Broad Efforts to Propose Inclusion of 'Key Priority Projects'

Reflection of Synchrotron Radiation Accelerator and Jeonnam-type New Deal, etc.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, is continuing an active campaign by meeting with relevant ministers to request the inclusion of key pending projects as the Ministry of Economy and Finance reviews next year’s budget proposals from various ministries.

According to Jeonnam Province on the 4th, Governor Kim met with Choi Ki-young, Minister of Science and ICT, to explain key issues including the additional construction of a synchrotron radiation accelerator and the Jeonnam New Deal, requesting not only the reflection of government policies but also national treasury support.

Governor Kim told Minister Choi, “In the case of the synchrotron radiation accelerator, it is a core facility for fostering national advanced industries, and to prepare for demand 10 years from now, it is essential to build an additional large accelerator in Naju alongside the medium accelerator in Ochang, Chungbuk.” He explained, “Naju Innovation City is the optimal location in terms of balanced national development and risk dispersion of large research facilities.”

He further requested, “Please actively incorporate the Jeonnam New Deal project, which is currently under review by the Presidential Advisory Council on Science and Technology, as a national R&D project.”

The Jeonnam New Deal project includes nine initiatives: ▲Development of robotic NDE maintenance technology for special bridge cables using machine learning ▲Establishment of a demonstration base for eco-friendly ship cryogenic insulation systems ▲Construction of a test and evaluation center for secondary battery materials and components ▲Development of an intelligent customized mobility system based on hyperconnectivity ▲Development of core technologies for eVTOL autonomous flight and flight stability and operability test evaluation technologies ▲Development of remanufacturing technology for low-degradation aged power equipment ▲Development of green hydrogen production and storage system technologies ▲Development of tuning parts technologies for future vehicles ▲Development and demonstration of eco-friendly ship mixed fuel technologies.

Additionally, he requested support for the construction of the National Gwangyang Science Museum and the designation of the Naju Innovation City Energy Valley as a small-scale research and development special zone.

Meanwhile, Governor Kim is conducting comprehensive efforts to secure national treasury funds in line with the schedule for next year’s budget formulation, including recent meetings with the Ministers of Oceans and Fisheries and Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Administrator of the Cultural Heritage Administration, and holding policy meetings with elected members of the National Assembly from Jeonnam to resolve key issues and request national funds.