Changwon Special City Invites Local National Assembly Members to the National Assembly... 'One Team Declaration' for Securing National Funding

Discussion on 12 Major Projects, Joint Commitment to Secure National Funds Until National Assembly Budget Confirmation

Mayor Hong Nampyo and Special Budget Committee Chair Seo Samsuk Engage in Busy Efforts to Secure National Funds

On the 1st, Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam held a breakfast meeting at the National Assembly, inviting local members of the National Assembly to discuss securing next year's national budget and major city administration issues, declaring a one-team effort to secure the national budget.

Hong Nampyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City, is explaining the necessity of securing national funds to members of the National Assembly.

The city has continuously promoted key projects of the 8th elected administration and, to foster future growth industries, held a joint workshop with local members of the National Assembly in February to discover new projects. In April, it also held a budget policy meeting inviting local members of the National Assembly, continuously strengthening communication and cooperation with their offices to secure national funds.

This meeting was arranged ahead of the National Assembly's full-scale review of the government budget proposal, as the 2024 government budget increase rate remained at a low 2.8% due to a sound fiscal policy, causing an emergency for local governments to secure national funds. The meeting aimed to prepare joint response measures for securing national funds and discuss local issues.

Attending the meeting were Changwon area members of the National Assembly including Kim Young-seon (Uichang-gu), Kang Ki-yoon (Seongsan-gu), Choi Hyung-doo (Masanhappo-gu), and Lee Dal-gon (Jinhae-gu), who engaged in in-depth discussions with Hong Nam-pyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City, on major national budget investment projects that will lead the city's future 50 years.

Changwon Special City has declared a one-team effort with members of the National Assembly to secure national funding.

The main projects discussed included ▲ Establishment of the Changwon National Industrial Complex Future 50 Years Manufacturing Digital Transformation (DX) Support Center with 13 billion KRW (total project cost 48 billion KRW) ▲ Development of a dual-use military and civilian hydrogen-based powertrain (hydrogen powertrain) project with 500 million KRW (total project cost 250.5 billion KRW) ▲ Establishment of an AI and big data-based advanced medical and bio device research and manufacturing center with 3.4 billion KRW (total project cost 25.7 billion KRW) ▲ Construction of an advanced composite beam irradiation facility with 3 billion KRW (total project cost 450 billion KRW) ▲ Development of enterprise occupancy space in the Changwon Small Giant Special Zone with 22.3 billion KRW (total project cost 44.5 billion KRW) ▲ Gyeongnam Innovation Academy project with 1 billion KRW (total project cost 39.8 billion KRW) ▲ Marine leisure tourism hub public contest project with 1 billion KRW (total project cost 43 billion KRW) ▲ Construction of the Masan Port waterfront marine leisure experience center with 700 million KRW (total project cost 13.3 billion KRW) ▲ Establishment of a clean seawater system for safe seafood supply with 1.4 billion KRW (total project cost 15.8 billion KRW) ▲ Jinhae modern historical and cultural space creation project with 2.9 billion KRW (total project cost 50 billion KRW) ▲ Green rainwater infrastructure project around Masan Stadium with 11.05 billion KRW (total project cost 4 billion KRW) ▲ Establishment of a defense parts research institute with 540 million KRW (total project cost undecided).

The city focused on the government's four major investment priorities (enhancing private-sector-led economic vitality, protecting vulnerable groups, innovating economic structure and system, and strengthening the state's basic functions), especially emphasizing 'enhancing private-sector-led economic vitality,' and stressed the necessity of government budget input for projects contributing to future growth industries.

Mayor Hong, who raised the topic of the 'Changwon National Industrial Complex Future 50 Years Manufacturing Digital Transformation (DX) Support Center,' said, "Although the number of smart factories in the industrial complex is increasing, most remain at a low implementation stage, making advancement urgent." He emphasized that establishing the digital transformation support center will promote the practical nurturing of smart factories and serve as a catalyst leading the future 50 years of South Korea's manufacturing industry, actively requesting government budget support.

Additionally, he requested active support at the National Assembly level for projects aimed at diversifying Changwon's industrial structure, including ▲ Development of a dual-use military and civilian hydrogen-based powertrain ▲ Establishment of a defense parts research institute ▲ Construction of next-generation composite beam irradiation facilities ▲ Development of enterprise occupancy space in the Changwon Small Giant Special Zone.

Mayor Hong stated, "Our city's major pending projects align with the government's key investment directions, strengthening existing industries' competitiveness and future growth engines." He added, "Although securing next year's national budget is expected to be challenging due to difficult government fiscal conditions, I ask the local members of the National Assembly gathered here to unite with our city and provide much interest and active support to secure quality national funds."

Meanwhile, after the breakfast meeting, Mayor Hong met sequentially with Ji Dong-ha, Senior Specialist of the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Committee, and Seo Sam-seok, Chair of the Budget and Accounts Committee, explaining major national budget proposal projects and actively requesting budget inclusion, continuing his busy efforts to secure national funds.

Changwon Special City plans to continue intensive efforts to secure national funds by maintaining meetings with members of the National Assembly and government officials until the government budget proposal is finalized at the National Assembly.