Chungnam Province has set a goal to secure 10 trillion won in government budget for next year and has begun all-out efforts to achieve this target.
The basic direction for achieving the goal was established as creating visible achievements in the 8th local government term, such as selection and passage of large-scale preliminary feasibility study projects, timely promotion of major provincial administrative agenda projects for next year, and focused management of projects not reflected in last year’s government budget.
On the 20th, the province announced that it held a policy briefing at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building in Seoul, inviting ruling and opposition lawmakers from the region.
The policy briefing was attended by Kim Tae-heum, Governor of Chungnam Province, Kim Ki-young, Vice Governor, heads of provincial offices and bureaus, and about 30 lawmakers including Moon Jin-seok, Park Wan-joo, Lee Jeong-moon, Jeong Jin-seok, Jang Dong-hyuk, Lee Myung-soo, Kang Hoon-sik, Seong Il-jong, Kim Jong-min, Eo Ki-gu, and Hong Moon-pyo. The event was organized to share major regional issues and projects targeted for government budget allocation in Chungnam.
At the meeting, the province explained 30 proposed projects for government budget allocation and 13 current issues to the regional lawmakers, requesting their active interest and support.
The list of new government budget projects to be secured by the province includes ▲ connecting the Seohae Line and Gyeongbu High-Speed Line (KTX) ▲ restoration of Janghang National Wetlands ▲ promotion of Chungnam Smart Green Industrial Complex ▲ construction of a mass production plant for marine bio-materials ▲ establishment of a comprehensive autonomous driving mobility infrastructure ▲ construction of a branch of the National Police Hospital ▲ installation of a Seosan branch of the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology ▲ creation of a K-Yugyo Eco Museum ▲ development of a smart aquaculture complex on reclaimed land, among others.
Ongoing projects include ▲ major renovation of Chungnam industrial complexes ▲ construction of the Western Inland Private Highway ▲ high-speed project for the Honam Line (Gasuwon to Nonsan) ▲ establishment of the National East Asia Historical City Promotion Institute ▲ creation of Wonsando Marine Leisure Sports Center ▲ construction of Chungnam e-sports stadium ▲ global landmark project for Haemi International Holy Site ▲ and Daesan-Dangjin Highway.
The province presented regional lawmakers with local issues such as the enactment of a special law supporting areas affected by coal power plant closures, establishment of the National Institute of Dental Research in Chungnam (Cheonan), prompt relocation of public institutions in the Seoul metropolitan area to Chungnam Innovation City (Naepo New Town), establishment of a vehicle convergence semiconductor innovation ecosystem, revision of the U.S. military relocation Pyeongtaek Support Act, designation of a national advanced strategic industry (display) specialized complex, and extension of the GTX-C line to Cheonan and Asan, emphasizing the need for support.
Kim Tae-heum, Governor of Chungnam Province, said, “The reason Chungnam was able to open the era of a 9 trillion won government budget this year was largely due to the inclusion of future growth projects such as clean hydrogen and bio in last year’s National Assembly review process. This year, we will work together with ruling and opposition lawmakers in the region to achieve the goal of securing 10 trillion won in next year’s government budget and take a step closer to reaching it.”
Meanwhile, the province secured 9.0589 trillion won in government budget, the largest amount in the history of provincial administration, which is 685 billion won (8.2%) more than the 8.3739 trillion won secured last year.
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