[Full Text] Kim Du-gwan: "80 Trillion Won Budget Invested in Chungcheong Mega City... Administrative Capital Completion"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] On the 30th, Democratic Party presidential candidate Assemblyman Kim Du-kwan held a press conference at the Chungcheongnam-do Provincial Government briefing room to announce the 'Chungcheong Region Mega City Vision.' He revealed a mega city vision and national balanced development plan that includes investing more than 80 trillion won in the Chungcheong Region Mega City to build a 'Grand Mega City.'

Below is the full text of the press conference.

National balanced development, only Kim Du-kwan can achieve it.

Respected residents of Chungnam Province,

Dear party comrades,

I am Kim Du-kwan, Democratic Party presidential primary candidate.

The Moon Jae-in administration designated Chungnam Innovation City last October. It has been almost a year, but there has been no new progress yet.

So today, I visited the planned site of Chungnam Innovation City. Chungcheongnam-do is a symbol of national balanced development and must become a nationwide standard in its implementation. We must dismantle the Seoul Republic and decentralize Seoul across the country. The first step must be Chungcheongnam-do. The grand remodeling of Korea through national balanced development is Roh Moo-hyun's dream and a long-standing task for Kim Du-kwan. I will reorganize the country into five super-regional local governments and create four mega cities including the metropolitan area. During my presidential term, I plan to invest 320 trillion won in a .

In the Chungcheong Region Mega City, we will invest more than 80 trillion won to build a , equipped with transportation infrastructure, universities, industrial complexes, and research institutes, making it a genuine central mega city of Korea.

Only Kim Du-kwan can achieve national balanced development. I, Kim Du-kwan, led the administrative capital relocation together with the late President Roh Moo-hyun. I will complete the administrative capital relocation that President Roh and I started. It will be realized as the Chungcheong Region Grand Mega City.

□ First, I will realize the construction of a civilian airport in Seosan, Chungnam.

Currently, the West Central Coast region including Seosan, Dangjin, and Pyeongtaek is underserved in air services. To achieve national balanced development, we must actively resolve transportation service imbalances and improve transportation welfare levels.

Today, I toured Seosan Airport with Governor Yang Seung-jo of Chungnam Province and promised to work together to build a civilian airport. Seosan Airport, currently used as a military airport, can be converted into a civilian airport by constructing only a terminal building using the existing runway.

The total project cost is about 50 billion won, which is very low compared to other airport construction projects, making it a highly cost-effective project. Chungnam Province's designation as an innovation city and the designation of Haemi Martyrs' Shrine as an international shrine are increasing the need for an airport to foster the growth hub of the Pan Yellow Sea region.

□ I will complete the West Sea Line KTX high-speed rail network ahead of schedule.

Recently, the West Sea Line high-speed rail project was included in the 4th National Railroad Network Construction Plan. Once opened, the West Sea Line will reduce the travel time from Seoul to Hongseong, Chungnam from two hours to under 40 minutes. The West Sea Line high-speed rail project is a transportation revolution that will bring great transformation to the West Coast region. Currently, many stages such as preliminary feasibility studies remain for the West Sea Line KTX high-speed rail network project. I, Kim Du-kwan, will complete the KTX high-speed rail network early so that the West Coast high-speed rail leads the new future of the Pan Yellow Sea era.

□ I will support the prompt relocation of public institutions to Chungnam Innovation City.

Since the designation of Chungnam Innovation City in Naepo New Town, there has been no visible effect so far. Although 1.01 million residents signed a petition for the relocation of public institutions, the relocation has not yet occurred. To actively revitalize Chungnam Innovation City, the national government must step up. I, Kim Du-kwan, will continue President Moon Jae-in's pledge to foster the Pan Yellow Sea central city by firmly attracting public institutions, industrial centers, universities, research centers, and even KBS Chungnam Headquarters to Chungnam Innovation City.

I, Kim Du-kwan, reignited the discussion on the Gadeokdo New Airport, which had cooled down in Gyeongnam, and led the regional mega city concept, creating the vision of a five-pole, two-special system. I also advocate abolishing the preliminary feasibility study system for the development of local areas.

My campaign slogan is 'Five Seouls, and prosperous regions too.'

Among the candidates running in the presidential primary, I am the only one who has made national balanced development a core pledge. I am the only candidate who supports the regions. I will definitely become president, dismantle the Seoul Republic, and create a country where everyone prospers evenly.

Thank you.