At the Chungnam Local Government Meeting: "We Should Not Compete, But Recognize That We Are One in the Bigger Picture"
Mayors and county governors from the Chungnam region have requested full budgetary support from Chungnam Governor Kim Tae-heum.
They expressed the difficulties in their local governments' financial conditions and proposed budget support to resolve pressing issues, to which Governor Kim generally promised assistance.
On the 31st, Governor Kim and the mayors and county governors of 15 cities and counties held the 6th Chungcheongnam-do Local Government Meeting at the Chungnam Provincial Government Office to discuss regional issues.
Park Sangdon, Mayor of Cheonan, requested 8 billion KRW in support out of the 16 billion KRW in local funding needed for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's hub-type smart city development project. He emphasized that, once established, the hub-type smart city would allow for data-driven policies through Chungnam’s data collection and facilitate the spread of innovative smart city technologies across the ultra-wide area, thus requiring administrative and financial support.
Asan City, which is promoting the Sinjeongho Local Garden Project, requested active support to ensure it becomes Chungnam’s first local garden.
In response, Governor Kim said, "We will provide 4.8 billion KRW in support for the Cheonan hub-type smart city, and will review additional support," adding, "Cheonan and Asan are in conflict over the incinerator issue, but Asan should not be too obstinate."
He continued, "Even if Cheonan and Asan do not merge their administrative districts, they should not compete but rather proceed with the awareness that they are one within a larger framework."
Park Junghyun, Governor of Buyeo County, requested an amendment to the Innovation City Act to attract public institutions. He argued that since the current special law limits the relocation of public institutions to innovation cities, an amendment is necessary for fairness.
Governor Kim responded that while he does not oppose attracting public institutions to non-innovation cities, at present, selection and concentration are necessary.
Governor Kim stated, "Even after the designation of the innovation city, not a single public institution has been attracted to Naepo New Town. If we open it up to all 15 cities and counties, there will be no progress," adding, "Economists claim the first phase of public institution relocation was ineffective, which is hindering the second phase. In this situation, if we include non-innovation cities, the 15 cities and counties will be divided and become unmanageable."
He emphasized, "This does not mean giving up on attracting public institutions to non-innovation cities, but as governor, I am not in a position to take the lead in persuading the central government or members of the National Assembly for a legal amendment."
Other requests included: Gongju City, support for hosting the International Chestnut Industry Expo; Taean County, construction of new or alternative power plants following the closure of thermal power plants; Seosan City, introduction of a local resource facility tax for oil refining and storage facilities; Yesan County, support for office installation costs to revitalize the autonomous crime prevention unit; Hongseong County, support for building a youth complex cultural center in Naepo New Town; Cheongyang County, improvements to the prompt execution system, among others.
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