Relocation of Army Academy to Hometown Andong, Lee Jae-myung Says "Helps Revitalize Local Economy"

Fostering Future-Oriented Eco-Friendly Auto Parts Industry
Establishing Secondary Battery and Material Industry Belt Linking Gumi and Pohang

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, is taking a commemorative photo with his spouse Kim Hye-kyung during the Lunar New Year holiday on the 1st at the Andong Kim clan Hwasuhoe in Andong City, Gyeongbuk. February 1, 2022. [Provided by the Democratic Party Election Committee. Resale and DB prohibited] [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, announced seven major pledges for the development of the Gyeongbuk region, including relocating the Korea Army Academy from Seoul to Andong, located in Nowon-gu, Seoul, on the 1st.

Candidate Lee, who pledged to move the Korea Army Academy to his hometown Andong, stated, "There is no special reason for the Korea Army Academy to remain in Seoul," and emphasized, "Andong has a site of about 400,000 pyeong (approximately 1.32 million square meters) of the former 36th Division, and relocating the academy there would greatly help revitalize Andong's regional economy."

Visiting his hometown for the Lunar New Year, Lee announced his presidential pledges to achieve "a major industrial structure transformation, fostering future-oriented advanced industries, and establishing a comprehensive transportation network connecting east, west, south, and north," including ▲ fostering future-oriented eco-friendly automobile parts industry ▲ building a secondary battery and materials industry belt linking Gumi and Pohang ▲ creating a global vaccine and medical industry belt ▲ and establishing a new industrial ecosystem centered on science and technology in the southeastern region of Gyeongbuk.

For transportation network development, he pledged to steadily promote the Mungyeong-Kimcheon inland railway project, which is included in the 4th National Railroad Network Construction Plan, and to push forward the Southern Inland Railway project, targeted for completion in 2028. He also promised the establishment of a new KTX Gumi Station. Furthermore, he stated plans to promote the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Integrated New Airport and the opening of Ulleung Airport.