Changwon Mayor Heo Seong-mu Strives to Solve Local Issues... "Prime Minister Should Step Up to Secure Practical Special Authority"

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum (left) meets with Heo Seong-moo, Mayor of Changwon.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Ju Cheol-in] On the 28th, Heo Seong-mu, Mayor of Changwon City, met with Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum in Sejong City to request support for local issues such as securing special city authority and relocating R&D-centered public institutions to Changwon City.

Mayor Heo first pointed out, in his capacity as chairman of the National Special City Mayors' Council, that although the 4.5 million special city residents of Changwon, Suwon, Goyang, and Yongin have high expectations for special city status, the actual securing of special city authority remains insufficient. He requested that the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety take the lead in securing these special city authorities.

Mayor Heo then reiterated his request that, during the second phase of relocating public institutions to local areas, public institutions with research and development functions be sent to Changwon City, which serves as a regional growth hub city, from the perspective of national balanced development.

Mayor Heo stated, "Changwon City, a metropolitan city with a population of one million, must be designated by the government as a regional growth hub city leading national balanced development through the second phase of public institution relocation," adding, "If R&D-centered public institutions come to Changwon, it will have an even greater effect."