Miryang Mayor Park Il-ho: "We Will Help Each Other to Make Things Work Well"

Opening of the Era of 1 Trillion Won Main Budget, Pledging to Become a Hub City in Yeongnam Region

Secured the Largest Ever National Road Fund of 359.8 Billion Won and Announced Key Promotion Projects

Park Il-ho, mayor of Miryang City, Gyeongnam, is holding a New Year's press conference. / Photo by Kim Wook assa113@

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Wook] "We will stand tall as the central city of the Yeongnam region by successfully completing the large-scale projects initiated since the 6th local government!"

Park Il-ho, mayor of Miryang City, Gyeongnam, held his first press conference of the new year at 11 a.m. on the 3rd in the city hall briefing room and expressed his firm determination to make 2023 the year of leapfrogging as a hub city in the Yeongnam region.

At the press conference, Mayor Park detailed the city's administrative directions and key projects to be actively pursued this year, revealing his ambition to successfully complete the large-scale projects initiated since the 6th local government and firmly establish Miryang as the central city of the Yeongnam region.

Although it has been a short period of six months, he also briefly introduced the achievements made since the launch of the 8th local government.

The city established an organic cooperation system with Gyeongnam Province and members of the National Assembly to promote projects essential for regional development and actively secured national and provincial funds. As a result, this year marks the beginning of the 10 trillion won era in the main budget, securing a record-high 359.8 billion won in national and provincial funds.

In 2022, the city was selected for a total of 36 public projects worth 434.7 billion won, the largest ever, including region-customized integrated river projects and communication cooperation space projects by regional hubs. Notably, since 2016, the city has achieved the remarkable feat of being selected for public projects totaling 1 trillion won, taking a more meaningful step toward regional development.

Looking back on 2022, the city highlighted ten major achievements that became the driving force for Miryang’s development: ▲ signing an investment agreement with CJ Logistics ▲ full-scale operation of the Miryang-style Aikiwoom Learning Center ▲ opening of the Uiyeol Experience Center ▲ opening of the public postpartum care center ▲ completion of the Samyang Foods Miryang factory ▲ opening of Nano Bridge ▲ hosting the 64th Miryang Arirang Festival ▲ opening of Doraejae Natural Recreation Forest ▲ completion of the Smart Farm Innovation Valley ▲ and groundbreaking of the National Miryang Mountaineering School.

Looking ahead, the city plans to create a vibrant economic environment through industrial complex revitalization aligned with the completion of the enterprise-friendly Nano Convergence National Industrial Complex, the establishment of a hydrogen-specialized complex, and support policies to strengthen the self-sustainability of small business owners as key projects for this year.

Centered on the Gyeongnam Smart Farm Innovation Valley, completed last December, the city will foster a smart farm youth startup ecosystem and further advance the sixth industry centered on Miryang Mulsan and the Food Integrated Support Center to create an agricultural environment where farmers’ hard work is rewarded.

Also, in the 2023 Year of Miryang Visit, starting with the completion of the Miryang Rural Tourism and Recreation Complex, the city plans to revitalize the forest recreation tourism belt, the downtown tourism belt, and brand regional specialized cultural tourism resources to transform into a stay-type tourism city in the Yeongnam region.

Furthermore, the city is accelerating urban development for the happiness of all citizens through SOC projects such as bridge construction in various sectors, downtown road construction, continuous improvement of the transportation system, smart city development, expansion of citizen parks, and the establishment of senior welfare centers and youth hub facilities to enhance urban competitiveness.

Mayor Park said, "The active support and cooperation of citizens are essential for the development of Miryang. The year 2023 will be the year when the growth potential accumulated by Miryang is realized, becoming a year of change and leap forward for Miryang to stand tall again as the central city of the Yeongnam region. To this end, the mayor and all city employees will unite their efforts with a complementary and mutually beneficial attitude and devote themselves wholeheartedly."