Vice Minister of Economy Choi Sang-dae: "Local Governments Should Lead University Financial Support"

Choi Sang-dae, Vice Minister of Strategy and Finance, is giving a lecture at Kangwon National University in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province on the 18th.

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Song Seung-seop] Choi Sang-dae, Vice Minister of Strategy and Finance, emphasized on the 18th that “the university financial support system should be reorganized into a local government-led regional innovation-centered university support system.”

On the same day, Vice Minister Choi Sang-dae stated during a lecture titled “Vision and Strategy for Regional Economic Development” at Kangwon National University in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, “It is necessary to create a virtuous cycle regional development ecosystem through local talent cultivation, employment and entrepreneurship, and settlement.” He also said, “We will actively support the establishment of key regional infrastructure through the expansion of the Local Extinction Response Fund and the increase of local consumption tax.”

The visit to the Gangwon region was made as a follow-up to his visits to all non-metropolitan areas around September to October last year, revisiting population crisis areas such as Gangwon, Jeonbuk, and Gyeongbuk.

Vice Minister Choi proposed, “The new government’s vision for regional economic development begins with a paradigm shift that there can be no national economic growth without regional development in an era of population decline,” and added, “It is necessary to establish local government-led specialization strategies, education reform to secure human resources, build key regional infrastructure, and improve cooperative governance within regions, between regions, and between central and local governments.”

Afterwards, Vice Minister Choi visited Wonju and toured the medical device industry site at the Medical Device Technovalley. At the occasion to hear field opinions, participants requested expanded support for local governments that have grown through local initiatives. Vice Minister Choi explained, “We are strengthening support by expanding regional autonomous projects under the Special Account for National Balanced Development.”