Democratic Party Gwangju-Jeonnam Local Election Candidates "Sign Gwangju-Jeonnam-Bitgarm Innovation City Win-Win Development Agreement"

Gwangju Waste Management Plan Established Based on the Principle of On-site Treatment

Fostering New Energy Industries, Building Metropolitan Transportation Networks, Establishing Development Foundation and Fundraising

Formation of Permanent Metropolitan Cooperation Body, Full Support for Innovation City Promised

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong] The establishment of a mega city and metropolitan cooperation are emerging as key topics in local administration.

Amid this, Democratic Party candidates Kang Kijeong, mayoral candidate for Gwangju Metropolitan City; Kim Youngrok, gubernatorial candidate for Jeollanam-do; and Yoon Byungtae, mayoral candidate for Naju City, signed a win-win policy agreement to support metropolitan cooperation between Gwangju and Jeonnam and the joint innovation city (Bitgaram).

On the 21st, the three candidates held a win-win development agreement ceremony for Gwangju, Jeonnam, and Bitgaram Innovation City at the second-floor conference room of Nampyeong Nonghyup in Naju City, announcing their joint promotion of major win-win tasks in the fields of industry, transportation, and environment.

In particular, the agreement drew attention for its progressive and advanced efforts to resolve the SRF power plant issue, the biggest pending issue in Naju City. The agreement includes ▲ Gwangju City establishing its own waste treatment plan based on the principle of treating waste at the place of generation and actively cooperating to resolve the SRF power plant issue.

Looking into the specific policy agreement details in the industrial sector, they include ▲ Establishment of an ultra-high-power laser center and fostering of the Energy Valley ▲ Support for innovative startups and R&D infrastructure at Korea Energy Engineering University ▲ Development of next-generation battery industry in the Gwangju-Jeonnam energy convergence complex ▲ Fostering of Gwangju as a national high magnetic field research hub and related industries.

In the transportation sector, the agreement includes ▲ Introduction of metropolitan railroads, highways, and metropolitan BRT ▲ Regularization of budget policy consultations between local governments and National Assembly members to secure national SOC for metropolitan transportation network expansion, among other joint tasks.

In the environmental sector, the main contents include ▲ Declaration of carbon-neutral climate alliance ▲ Creation of the Yeongsan River 300-ri premium bicycle path ▲ Establishment of the Innovation City Development Foundation and creation of development funds, focusing on carbon neutrality and improving citizens' quality of life.

Additionally, the three candidates promised to form a special win-win committee directly under the candidates to promote the win-win development policy tasks, appointing one co-chair each, and to establish specialized committees by sector under it to institutionally guarantee cooperation between local governments.

They also declared that if elected as heads of local governments, they will set up official organizations to practically discuss and promote win-win tasks.

Yoon Byungtae, mayoral candidate for Naju City who led the Democratic Party agreement on this day, said, “The Democratic Party’s capable three candidates will definitely solve the numerous policy tasks such as attracting national large-scale research facilities, fostering future industries, establishing metropolitan transportation networks, and resolving the SRF issue through win-win cooperation,” emphasizing, “While the innovation city has been a source of conflict until now, it will become a link for win-win development going forward.”

Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong bong2910@asiae.co.kr