[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, stated, “For Gwangju’s civilian airport, Gwangju Metropolitan City needs to make a magnanimous decision to relocate it by this year as originally agreed.”
Governor Kim mentioned in an interview on the morning of the 10th at kbc Gwangju Broadcasting, “We will address current issues so that residents can feel the changes moving forward.”
In particular, he said, “Regarding the relocation of the military airport, Gwangju City should prepare a comprehensive support plan focusing on the acceptance of residents in the relocation area, propose it to the government, and simultaneously work on enacting a special law. If a groundbreaking policy alternative that can lead dialogue with residents in the relocation area is prepared, it will be a breakthrough for resolution.”
He continued, “Since these issues are national matters, they must be resolved through consultation with the government. We should proceed steadily with projects that can be done now and avoid unnecessary politicization.”
Governor Kim cited the creation of an Energy Valley, offshore wind power complexes, bioindustry, climate change response, and tourism industry as projects for Jeonnam’s future, also mentioning the attraction of an ultra-high-power laser center.
He added, “In line with the government’s ‘5th Basic Plan for New and Renewable Energy,’ Jeonnam will lead the renewable energy industry and realize carbon neutrality by 2050 through the Energy Valley, a national energy industry hub. We will do our best to establish a national energy industry ecosystem by establishing and achieving the ‘Energy Valley Season 2 Roadmap’ in cooperation with KEPCO, preparing for the normal opening of Korea Energy Engineering University, and attracting national institutions.”
He also spoke about the Jeonnam-type win-win job creation project involving the construction of an 8.2GW offshore wind power complex.
Governor Kim said, “By 2030, private investment of 48.5 trillion won is expected, with the attraction and nurturing of 450 companies and the creation of 120,000 jobs. With an expected annual profit of 300 billion won, this project will allow 40,000 residents of Sinan County to share profits of 600,000 won per month. Earlier this year, we held the ‘Jeonnam-type Win-Win Job Declaration Ceremony’ with the President and presented the vision of Jeonnam Province.”
He emphasized, “Jeonnam is rich in natural substances and healing resources and is the optimal place for advanced new drug development with a full-cycle support infrastructure centered on the nation’s only Hwasun Vaccine Industrial Complex. We will actively support the Hwasun Vaccine Industrial Complex to develop COVID-19 vaccines and attract an advanced medical complex linked to medical care, pharmaceuticals, and healing by 2022.”
He added, “Due to climate change, research on new promising income crops, establishment of cultivation technologies, and distribution to farms are necessary. Last year, we attracted the National Subtropical Crop Demonstration Center to Jangseong. Going forward, to complete the ‘Agricultural Research Complex,’ we will additionally attract agricultural research institutes and experiential education complexes and work on building cultivation house facilities and developing new varieties.”
Regarding the tourism industry, he explained, “Following the recent selection for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s ‘Korea Integrated Tourism Support Project,’ we will develop differentiated tourism content to attract 500,000 foreign tourists annually centered on Muan International Airport. We will also actively promote the ‘Year of Visit Jeonnam,’ which will operate for two years starting next year, foster Mokpo as a tourism hub city, and support projects such as Haenam Osiano and Yeosu Gyeongdo Marine Tourism Complex to establish an ecological and stay-type tourism base.”
Furthermore, he expressed, “The ultra-high-power laser center, along with Korea Energy Engineering University and the synchrotron accelerator, is a facility that will play a key role in developing future next-generation clean energy sources and is essential for balanced development in the Honam region, which currently lacks large-scale research facilities.”
Regarding regional issues, he mentioned, “To attract COP28, we are preparing and implementing various policies such as the 2050 Jeollanam-do Carbon Neutral Comprehensive Vision, and we will also prepare steadily for the 2023 Suncheonman International Garden Expo.”
Additionally, he said, “Regarding the integration of Gwangju and Jeonnam, it is very important to create conditions for integration by discovering ultra-wide cooperation projects or economic cooperation projects, and the government must also prepare special measures. We will strive to ensure that discussions are not hindered by the issue of the integrated government building’s location and that the city and provincial offices can maintain their functions even after integration.”
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