Visits to the National Assembly and Central Ministries Urging Budget Support
Jeollanam-do Governor Kim Young-rok is meeting Kim Min-seok, the Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party, at the National Assembly in Seoul on the 28th to request parliamentary cooperation for resolving major provincial administration issues and securing national funding. Photo by Jeonnam Province
Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeollanam-do, is accelerating his visits to the National Assembly and central government ministries to address key regional issues and secure national funding.
On the 28th, Governor Kim met consecutively with Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety; Kim Min-seok, Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party; Heo Young, Budget and Accounts Committee Whip; National Assembly members Jung Tae-ho and Joo Cheol-hyun; and directors and bureau chiefs of the Budget Office at the Ministry of Strategy and Finance.
Governor Kim explained to Minister Lee Sang-min that he had recommended the ‘Jeollanam-do Integrated University National Medical School’ to the government on the 22nd, and requested active support to ensure that the establishment of the national medical school and the allocation of student quotas for the 2026 academic year proceed swiftly.
He also emphasized the necessity of the government taking the lead in establishing the ‘South Coast Comprehensive Development Agency,’ with participation from Jeollanam-do, Gyeongsangnam-do, and Busan, to promote balanced development along the southern coast axis, and urged the early enactment of the related legislation, the ‘South Coast Development Special Act.’
Governor Kim also met in succession with Democratic Party National Assembly members including Supreme Council Member Kim Min-seok to seek parliamentary cooperation for regional issues and additional national funding.
Additionally, he held a meeting with Kim Dong-il, Director of the Budget Office at the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, and other key bureau chiefs to explain the projects targeted for budget increases in the National Assembly and requested their cooperation.
The proposed projects for budget increases by sector include: ▲ 2 billion KRW for design costs to establish a private-use space launch vehicle engine combustion test facility to secure a private-use launch vehicle combustion test facility base; ▲ 2.2 billion KRW for the establishment of eco-friendly ship cryogenic insulation system production and manufacturing infrastructure, including pilot production facilities for core cryogenic insulation system equipment; ▲ 300 million KRW for research service costs to create an AI-based advanced livestock industry convergence valley, aiming to build the nation’s only full-cycle livestock industrial complex leading the future advanced livestock industry.
Other proposals include: ▲ 15.4 billion KRW for workforce training and content production support for the creation of K-Disney; ▲ 1.4 billion KRW for design costs to establish a green convergence cluster.
Regarding national funding support for Jeollanam-do SOC projects, Governor Kim stated, "SOC projects, which will serve as a catalyst for regional economic development and tourism revitalization, require fair allocation of project funds considering regional equity, but the 2024 budget and the 2025 government proposal are significantly insufficient. To complete key regional projects within the planned period, securing 1 trillion KRW in project funds is necessary. I ask for cooperation to increase the budget by more than 300 billion KRW during the National Assembly review process."
In response, Kim Dong-il, Director of the Budget Office, said, "I agree with the necessity of Jeollanam-do’s key projects. We will carefully review to ensure that the budget for core projects for regional development is reflected as much as possible."
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