[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, requested support for offshore wind power complexes and other projects from Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.
According to Jeonnam Province on the 30th, Governor Kim, who attended the ‘Gwangju·Jeonnam Regional Balanced New Deal On-site Supreme Council Meeting’ hosted by the Democratic Party of Korea that day, requested support for 12 pending issues and 22 budget support projects including the ‘creation of a large-scale offshore wind power complex,’ ‘establishment of an RE100 exclusive pilot complex,’ and ‘hosting the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP).’
In particular, as key regional projects, he requested the ‘establishment of a national medical school,’ and the ‘inclusion of core infrastructure such as the Jeolla Line high-speed railway in the national plan,’ and urged the enactment of three special regional development laws: the ‘Korea Energy Science and Technology University Act,’ the ‘Special Act on Support for Regions Facing Local Extinction,’ and the ‘Yeosu·Suncheon October 19 Incident Special Act.’
Lee Nak-yeon, the party leader, said in his opening remarks, “The regional balanced New Deal is the cornerstone for Korea’s new development, and its beginning starts in Honam.”
He continued, “Jeonnam’s ‘offshore wind power generation complex project’ and ‘Blue Economy project’ are fields where Jeonnam can excel the most and are essential projects for Jeonnam’s future,” adding, “In particular, the creation of the offshore wind power complex is a vigorous challenge for the Green New Deal, and I will actively support and back it.”
He also stated that he is closely consulting with Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Hyun-mi to ensure that the Jeolla Line high-speed railway project, a long-cherished wish of the residents of Jeonnam and Jeonbuk, is reflected in the ‘4th National Railroad Network Construction Plan’ so that it can become an artery contributing to regional balanced development.
Policy Committee Chair Han Jeong-ae said, “The ‘RE100 exclusive pilot complex’ project is essential for the spread of renewable energy,” and promised, “Regarding the offshore wind power complex, the feasibility study for the ‘offshore wind power transmission and distribution line construction project’ is currently underway, and once completed, the project will be promptly promoted.”
Governor Kim expressed the position that the ‘UNFCCC Conference of the Parties’ must also be hosted, and Supreme Council Member Yeom Tae-young and K-New Deal Committee Director Lee Kwang-jae also responded that active support is necessary.
Party leader Lee Nak-yeon promised party-level support for the enactment of the ‘Korea Energy Science and Technology University Act,’ and said, “The enactment of the ‘Special Act on Support for Regions Facing Local Extinction’ aligns with the Democratic Party’s philosophy,” lending strength to the passage of regional pending bills.
In response, Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, said, “Jeollanam-do has formed a regional balanced New Deal promotion team to actively promote the regional balanced New Deal, a core of the Korean New Deal, and has discovered 117 leading projects worth 9.2 trillion won, and plans to continuously discover specialized projects.”
Meanwhile, Jeonnam Province plans to hold the ‘Green New Deal Jeonnam-type Win-Win Job Project Proclamation Ceremony,’ a representative project of Jeonnam, in December with the President in attendance, and requested the Democratic Party’s continuous interest and support.
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