Presiding Over the Public Discussion in Seosan, Chungnam
"Importance of Coexistence Between Military and Local Residents"
President Yoon Suk-yeol announced on the 26th that he will proceed with the lifting of military facility protection zones nationwide within the scope that does not hinder security.
On the same day, President Yoon presided over the fifteenth public discussion forum under the theme "Chungnam Full of Vitality in People’s Livelihood through Future Industries" at Seosan Air Base in Chungnam, stating, "It is nationally very important to create an environment where the military and local residents coexist harmoniously."
Seosan Air Base, where the public discussion forum was held, is the largest Air Force base in South Korea and is one of the representative sites of the "civil-military coexistence development model," where the construction project of Seosan Civil Airport is being promoted.
In his opening remarks, President Yoon said, "After carefully reviewing the demands of residents within the scope that does not hinder security, we have decided to lift military facility protection zones totaling 103 million pyeong (339 km²) nationwide, including 42.7 million pyeong (141 km²) around Seosan Air Base in Chungnam."
President Yoon emphasized, "With the lifting of military facility protection zones, Chungnam is almost fully equipped with the spatial conditions necessary to soar as the economic center of the Pan-Yellow Sea region," adding, "We will support its development as a hub for the future mobility industry and as the center of South Korea’s defense industry."
In particular, President Yoon announced that construction work will begin rapidly to develop the national industrial complexes in Cheonan City and Hongseong County into industrial complexes specialized in the future mobility industry. In the case of Nonsan City, leveraging Chungnam’s excellent defense infrastructure such as the Headquarters of the Armed Forces and the Korea National Defense University, there are plans to develop it into a "defense industry specialized cluster." The site preparation design will start this year, with construction beginning in 2026. Additionally, a "Defense Future Technology Research Center" will be established to firmly grow Chungnam’s defense industry.
Furthermore, the three newly developed industrial complexes in Cheonan, Hongseong, and Nonsan in Chungnam will be developed as integrated clusters fully equipped with necessary facilities from the planning stage. If this plan is realized, it is expected to generate a production inducement effect of 24.1 trillion KRW and an employment inducement effect of approximately 81,000 jobs solely in the future mobility sector.
Moreover, an "Enterprise Innovation Park," where companies directly acquire land, establish development plans, and supply sites, will be established in Dangjin City. Taean County will be supported without hesitation through financial aid and expedited permits to become a smart city where future mobility services are realized.
President Yoon added, "By building a police hospital in Asan City to strengthen the regional medical system in Chungnam, both police and residents will enjoy high-quality medical services. We will also actively support the establishment of the Chungnam National University Naepo Campus to make it a center of future advanced education."
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