'Sky Taxi' UAM Pilot Operation Zone Designated
Yoon "Designate a Tertiary Hospital in Jeju Within My Term"
President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the 29th "Public Livelihood Discussion with the People" held on the 15th at the Jeju International Free City Development Center in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, under the theme "Jeju, a Clean Island Open to the World, a Global Resort City." [Image source=Yonhap News]
President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 15th, "We will actively cooperate with Jeju Province to ensure the smooth progress of the construction of Jeju New Port, and carefully oversee related procedures such as the preliminary feasibility study to develop Jeju New Port into a key hub port for maritime logistics and cruises." He also said, "We will closely cooperate with Jeju Province on the construction of Jeju Second Airport." Additionally, he promised, "We will review the regulations for advanced general hospitals and unconditionally designate an advanced general hospital in Jeju Province within my term."
On the same afternoon, President Yoon held the 29th public discussion forum titled "A Clean Island Open to the World, Global Resort City Jeju" at the Jeju International Free City Development Center (JDC) located in Jeju Province. This forum was held one month after the Gwangju public discussion forum in September.
Starting with the remark, "Every time I come to Jeju Province, I feel it is a treasure," President Yoon said in his opening remarks, "Thanks to the efforts of Jeju residents, Jeju has developed into a world-class city." He presented three visions to propel Jeju forward: ▲ Tourism development through 'connection and specialization' ▲ Industrial growth led by 'cleanliness and innovation' ▲ Improvement of residential living conditions focusing on 'substantial change.'
"'Air Taxi' UAM as a Pillar of Jeju Tourism Infrastructure"
First, he will focus on developing Jeju's tourism infrastructure. President Yoon explained, "'Air taxis,' urban air mobility (UAM), will be made a pillar of Jeju's tourism infrastructure," adding, "Jeju has early on established cooperative systems with domestic and international companies such as SK Telecom and public institutions to develop UAM routes connecting Jeju Airport, Seongsan Port, and Jungmun Tourist Complex, among other tourist spots in Jeju."
President Yoon emphasized, "We will designate pilot operation zones for UAM and actively support its commercialization to expand new tourism infrastructure that combines future transportation means with pristine natural environments."
He urged, "To elevate the quality and standards of Jeju tourism, which is rich in cultural and natural heritage such as haenyeo culture, dol hareubang, stone walls, and oreum, we must transform tourism into a humanities-based tourism where visitors, including children, learn about nature and culture to enhance intellectual sophistication."
He continued, "The government will support the preservation and transmission of Jeju haenyeo culture, which is registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and a UN Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System." The government plans to prepare preservation and development measures for haenyeo fisheries in the '4th Basic Plan for Fishing Villages and Ports Development,' a ten-year plan to be announced next year, and will also proceed without delay with the establishment of the National Tamna Cultural Heritage Research Center.
President Yoon said, "We will actively support the innovation of Jeju's clean energy and clean industries so that Jeju can become an exemplary case of carbon-neutral energy transition," adding, "We will support the promotion of a distributed energy specialized area utilizing Jeju's abundant renewable energy infrastructure and also back innovations in clean energy such as hydrogen."
President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the 29th "Public Livelihood Discussion with the People" held on the 15th at the Jeju International Free City Development Center in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, under the theme "A Clean Island Open to the World, Global Resort City Jeju." [Image source=Yonhap News]
"560 Billion KRW Invested in Green Hydrogen Demonstration Project by 2026"
He also stated, "We will invest 56 billion KRW by 2026 in Jeju's large-scale green hydrogen demonstration project to secure green hydrogen production technology suited to Korea's conditions," and added, "If Jeju applies to participate in the clean hydrogen production facility installation project that produces hydrogen from biogas, we will actively consider it."
Jeju-specific pilot projects to recycle used batteries into agricultural machinery and energy storage systems (ESS) will also be actively promoted. By next year, a total of 22.4 billion KRW will be invested to support the development and diversification of lava seawater-related products such as functional beverages and cosmetics, aiming to further advance related industries.
President Yoon mentioned that medical demand in Jeju is increasing, but there is no advanced general hospital and the number of doctors is low, resulting in insufficient regional medical infrastructure. He said, "We are pursuing medical reform to establish a 'regionally conclusive essential medical system' capable of high-level and severe emergency care even in regions like Jeju."
He pointed out, "Currently, 700,000 people reside in Jeju, and over 10 million visit annually, increasing medical demand, but there is not a single advanced general hospital because the medical service area is linked with Seoul." He also noted, "The number of doctors per 1,000 people is 1.8 in Jeju, only half of Seoul's 3.6." Due to the lack of medical infrastructure, if a family member becomes seriously ill, they must go to the mainland, including Seoul, for treatment.
President Yoon promised to actively review institutional improvements such as redefining medical service areas considering regional characteristics to promptly designate an advanced general hospital in Jeju. He also pledged to steadily support the expansion of functions at Jeju National University Hospital and Seogwipo Medical Center for severe patients and infectious disease response. This reflects the government's commitment to actively support special medical reforms unique to Jeju.
"Review of Advanced General Hospital Regulations, Support for Necessary Medical Facilities"
President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the 29th "Public Livelihood Discussion with the People" held on the 15th at the Jeju International Free City Development Center in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, under the theme "A Clean Island Open to the World, Global Resort City Jeju." [Image source=Yonhap News]
In particular, President Yoon told Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong, "It will never work if we apply the metropolitan area standards," and received great applause from attendees by saying, "We will review the regulations related to the designation of advanced general hospitals and unconditionally designate one within my term, and the state will finance the expansion of necessary medical facilities and equipment for advanced general hospitals."
He cited regional balanced development as the reason for pursuing medical reform and emphasized, "Medical services in Jeju have a serious gap compared to other regions, mainland areas, and metropolitan areas," and stressed, "We must make Jeju a region where many people want to live."
Furthermore, he pledged to generously support the budget needed for the expansion of sewage treatment plants and the maintenance of aging sewage pipelines next year, and to invest 41.3 billion KRW by 2028 in the Jeju Resource Circulation Cluster project to establish a foundation for the recycling industry. Considering the difficulty of bearing higher logistics costs compared to the mainland, he plans to invest 25.8 billion KRW by 2026 to build a smart joint logistics center in the Ara 2-dong area of Jeju City. Support will also be extended to islands within Jeju's living area such as Sangchuja Island and Hachuja Island, including improvements to resident safety facilities, infrastructure, and educational environments.
About 80 people attended the forum, including Jeju residents, businesspeople, researchers, parents, educators, haenyeo, and members of the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Local Era Committee. From the government, Local Era Committee Chairman Woo Dong-gi and Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyu-hong participated; from the region, Jeju Governor Oh Young-hoon attended; and from the Presidential Office, Policy Chief Sung Tae-yoon, Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs Park Chun-seop, Senior Secretary for Social Affairs Jang Sang-yoon, and Senior Secretary for Science and Technology Park Sang-wook were present.
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