[Naju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yuk-bong] The National Innovation City (District) Council, including Naju City in Jeollanam-do, raised their voices regarding the second relocation of public institutions from the Seoul metropolitan area, stating that "they should be prioritized for allocation to existing innovation cities."
The National Innovation City Council held a temporary meeting at Woosuk University on this day and adopted a joint statement urging the priority allocation of the second relocation of public institutions to existing innovation cities. [Photo by Naju City]
On the 31st, according to Naju City, the National Innovation City (District) Council held a temporary meeting at Woosuk University located in Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, and adopted a joint statement urging the prioritization of the second relocation of public institutions to existing innovation cities.
This temporary meeting was held following remarks by Woo Dong-gi, Chairman of the National Balanced Development Committee, in November last year that "the second relocation of public institutions will become visible from the end of 2023," and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's work report on the second relocation of public institutions in January this year. Mayor Yoon, who is the chairman of the council and from Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, urgently proposed holding the temporary meeting.
Earlier, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced through the work report that it would establish a basic plan for the second relocation of public institutions, including "selection criteria and admission principles for relocated institutions within the first half of 2023," and stated, "The relocation will begin within the year, starting with tenant institutions."
The temporary meeting was attended by nine innovation cities nationwide and 11 heads of cities, counties, and districts, including Yoon Byung-tae, Mayor of Naju City and vice chairman of the council.
Through the joint statement, they strongly urged the government to prioritize the allocation of the second relocation of public institutions, which is planned to be promoted within the year, to existing innovation cities for the successful settlement of innovation cities nationwide.
The statement expressed concerns and opposition to claims from some quarters advocating for dispersed allocation to other regions rather than existing innovation cities, while firmly upholding the principle of relocating public institutions to innovation cities as stipulated in the "Special Act on the Creation and Development of Innovation Cities."
Additionally, it included the establishment of an "Innovation City Support Office" to improve the poor living conditions in existing innovation cities and called for prompt government-level support measures.
The heads of each local government emphasized, "If the second relocation of public institutions is dispersed to regions other than existing innovation cities, the efforts of local governments so far will be wasted, regional conflicts will be exacerbated, and regional imbalance will deepen."
They also stated, "The second relocation of public institutions should lead to urban development that realizes regional balanced development through the successful settlement of existing innovation cities."
The National Innovation City (District) Council plans to directly visit and deliver the joint statement to the Blue House, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, National Assembly, and Balanced Development Committee.
Mayor Yoon Byung-tae said in his greeting, "The purpose of creating innovation cities is not simply the relocation of public institutions from the Seoul metropolitan area but focuses on playing a pivotal role in regional balanced development," adding, "The second relocation of public institutions should focus on completing existing innovation cities by resolving commercial vacancy and improving living conditions so that they can properly fulfill their role as regional balanced development hubs."
He continued, "It is very important for the National Innovation City (District) Council to prepare an optimal list of institutions to be relocated, considering the location and characteristics of existing innovation cities, to avoid unnecessary competition related to the second relocation."
Furthermore, he proposed, "Let us actively cooperate to spread public consensus through rotating proposals by each district and holding National Assembly forums so that the council's efforts for regional balanced development do not fade and can continue."
Naju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yuk-bong baekok@asiae.co.kr
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