Presiding over the 20th Public Discussion in Muan, Jeonnam
Iksan~Yeosu 180km High-Speed Rail Network
Yeongam~Gwangju 47km Ultra-High-Speed Highway Construction
"Making Jeonnam the Aerospace Industry Hub of South Korea"
President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the 20th "Public Livelihood Discussion with the People" held on the 14th at Jeonnam Provincial Office in Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do, under the theme "Jeonnam Leaping Forward Vigorously with Future Industries and Culture." [Image source=Yonhap News]
President Yoon Suk-yeol announced on the 14th, "We will invest approximately 2.6 trillion won to construct a superhighway similar to Germany's Autobahn along the 47 km stretch from Yeongam to Gwangju." The plan aims to significantly improve accessibility to the southern coast area of Jeollanam-do by expanding social overhead capital (SOC) infrastructure such as roads, railways, and transportation. In particular, as part of the southern region's wide-area tourism development project, 1.3 trillion won will be invested in Jeollanam-do to make it a destination that everyone wants to visit.
On the same afternoon, President Yoon presided over the 20th Livelihood Discussion Forum at the Jeollanam-do Provincial Office in Muan County, Jeollanam-do, under the theme "Jeonnam's vigorous leap forward through future industries and culture," stating, "We will enhance Jeonnam's vitality through industry, culture, and education." This was the first time President Yoon visited the Jeonnam region for a Livelihood Discussion Forum.
In his opening remarks, President Yoon emphasized, "We must form a metropolitan economic zone through the revitalization of tourism and expansion of living areas in Jeonnam," adding, "Expanding SOC infrastructure such as roads, railways, and transportation to support this is key."
Yoon: "Over 1 Trillion Won to Improve Jeolla Line High-Speed Rail"
First, a superhighway similar to Germany's Autobahn will be constructed along the 47 km section from Yeongam to Gwangju. By accelerating the construction of the Gwangju-Gangjin Expressway (51.1 km) currently under construction, the Gangjin-Wando Expressway (38.9 km) under preliminary feasibility study, and the Jeolla Line high-speed rail from Iksan to Yeosu (180 km), accessibility to the southern coastal area of Jeollanam-do will be dramatically improved, laying the foundation for tourism and future industrial development in Jeonnam.
President Yoon said, "There are many complaints that the Jeolla Line high-speed rail is not functioning properly due to its slow speed," and added, "We will invest over 1 trillion won to improve the speed of the Jeolla Line high-speed rail and do our best to enhance its performance."
To innovate industrial infrastructure and foster future industries, efforts will be accelerated to automate Gwangyang Port through the establishment of an automated port testbed and to localize core equipment. President Yoon stated, "Through the 700 billion won automated testbed construction project underway at Gwangyang Port, we will streamline logistics and foster related industries by localizing core equipment," emphasizing, "We will continuously apply advanced technologies to ports developed in the future to elevate port competitiveness to an international level."
President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the 20th "Public Livelihood Discussion with the People" held on the 14th at Jeonnam Provincial Office in Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do, under the theme "Jeonnam Leaping Forward Vigorously with Future Industries and Culture." [Image source=Yonhap News]
Additionally, Jeonnam will be developed as a hub for South Korea's space industry. As part of the space industry cluster triangular system project exempted from preliminary feasibility study (Jeonnam - launch vehicles, Gyeongnam - satellites, Daejeon - research and talent development), a private launch site and assembly building will be established in Goheung, along with a promise to build a launch vehicle technology commercialization center. The exemption of preliminary feasibility study for the Goheung space launch vehicle national industrial complex will be actively pursued to enable related companies to conveniently carry out commercialization, testing, evaluation, and certification procedures in Goheung.
President Yoon received enthusiastic responses from the audience by stating, "For Goheung, selected as a specialized district for space launch vehicles, we will actively pursue the exemption of preliminary feasibility study for the national industrial complex for space launch vehicles, which will be built on approximately 500,000 pyeong."
Furthermore, for regions in Jeonnam with high development potential such as secondary batteries and content sectors, active support will be provided for designation as opportunity development zones, aiming to make Jeonnam a base for future industries. President Yoon explained, "Opportunity development zones essentially mean tax support," emphasizing, "We will significantly reduce inheritance tax and capital gains tax on stock transfers for executives and major shareholders deciding to relocate companies, creating strong incentives to move companies."
Fostering the 'Black Semiconductor' Gim Industry... Potential for 10 Trillion Won in Exports
President Yoon said, "The government will also make all-out efforts to support Jeonnam's competitive agriculture, livestock, and fisheries industries." Plans are underway to establish a foundation for an AI-based advanced agriculture and livestock convergence zone in the Muan-Hampyeong area. Through this, an agriculture and livestock model utilizing AI and big data will be created to attract young people into the agricultural sector, generate jobs, and revitalize rural areas.
In Mokpo, active support will be provided for the gim (seaweed) export industry, a new food industry in Jeonnam, through the establishment of a seafood export complex and expansion of seafood processing and distribution centers. President Yoon expressed expectations, saying, "We will actively foster the gim industry, which is the top domestic seafood export item and also called the 'black semiconductor.' If gim becomes widely used in the West, exports could reach 10 trillion won."
By utilizing decommissioned fishing vessels to continuously remove illegal fishing gear from China, support will also be provided for the recovery of fishery resources for Jeonnam fishermen. During the forum, a participant engaged in yellow croaker fishing expressed difficulties due to China's 'sweep' fishing practices. President Yoon responded, "Last year, I instructed the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Coast Guard to enforce strict crackdowns and law enforcement, but illegal fishing vessels still seem to be rampant," adding, "We will strengthen law enforcement further to protect our Jeonnam fishermen."
President Yoon ordered, "To retain and attract talent necessary for Jeonnam's industrial development, cultural and educational infrastructure must be newly upgraded." The government plans to invest 1.3 trillion won in Jeonnam as part of the southern region's wide-area tourism development project and has selected Suncheon City and Jindo County as cultural cities of South Korea to play leading roles.
Suncheon, known worldwide as a garden city, will be developed as a cultural content industry hub where youth jobs can be created and as a representative city of the local era. Through the establishment of an animation cluster and support for content production, investment attraction, distribution, and promotion by related public institutions, it will be developed into a core infrastructure of 'K-Disney.'
President Yoon emphasized, "In February, seven basic local governments including Gwangyang, Naju, Mokpo, Muan, Sinan, Yeongam, and Gangjin were selected as pilot areas for education development zones," adding, "By intensively nurturing talent closely related to regional development strategies such as new materials in Gwangyang, energy in Naju, marine tourism in Mokpo, Muan, and Sinan, and future agricultural life industries in Yeongam and Gangjin, a virtuous cycle system will be established where talent nurtured in Jeonnam continuously advances Jeonnam's development."
Yoon: "Regarding Jeonnam Provincial Government's National Medical School, Opinions Will Be Gathered by the Province"
President Yoon, who held the first Livelihood Discussion Forum in Honam on this day, indicated that he will continue to hold such forums in the Jeonnam region. He promised, "I will not just come to Jeolla Province once and never again. We will hold multiple Livelihood Discussion Forums in Jeonnam Province going forward, and will continue follow-up measures so that we can have in-depth discussions when I visit again."
He added, "Regarding the issue of establishing a national medical school in Jeonnam Province, as mentioned by Governor Kim Young-rok, please first decide which university will host it, gather opinions within Jeonnam Province, and inform us so that we can proceed."
The forum was attended by businesspeople related to advanced future industries such as aerospace and secondary batteries in Jeonnam, parents, local residents, and members of the Jeonnam Local Era Committee. From the government side, Woo Dong-gi, Chairman of the Local Era Committee, and Jang Mi-ran, 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, participated. From local governments, Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, and Kim Dae-jung, Superintendent of Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education, attended. From the Presidential Office, about 100 people including Sung Tae-yoon, Chief of Policy Office, Park Chun-seop, Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs, Jang Sang-yoon, Senior Secretary for Social Affairs, and Park Sang-wook, Senior Secretary for Science and Technology, were present.
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