Delivered to Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggi-do Economic Science Promotion Agency
Paju City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Kim Kyoungil), delivered a petition signed by citizens urging the prompt relocation of the Gyeonggi-do Economic Science Promotion Agency to Gyeonggi-do and the Gyeonggi-do Economic Science Promotion Agency on April 21.
Paju City delivered a petition signed by citizens urging the Gyeonggi-do Economic Science Promotion Agency to relocate promptly to Gyeonggi-do and the Gyeonggi-do Economic Science Promotion Agency on the 21st. Provided by Paju City
The petition delivered by the city is the result of a citywide signature campaign jointly organized by Paju City and the Unjeong New Town Association (President Lee Seungcheol, hereafter referred to as Unjeongyeon). The campaign called for the swift relocation of the Gyeonggi-do Economic Science Promotion Agency to Paju as originally planned, in response to prolonged delays. More than 20,000 citizens participated in the petition. The signature drive began in July 2024 and was conducted mainly through Unjeongyeon's online community and various civic groups in each town and district.
Choi Daeil, head of Paju City's Corporate Support Division, and Lee Seungcheol, president of Unjeongyeon, met with Kim Hyungon, president of the Gyeonggi-do Economic Science Promotion Agency, and Heo Seungbeom, director of policy planning at Gyeonggi Province. They explained, "We personally conveyed the will and wishes of Paju citizens contained in the petition urging the relocation of the agency," and requested, "We ask that the working-level consultative body, which has been suspended for three years, be promptly resumed so that the relocation can proceed according to due process."
The relocation project of the Gyeonggi-do Economic Science Promotion Agency to Paju is part of a public institution relocation policy under which Gyeonggi Province aimed to move eight agencies to the northern region for balanced regional development. According to the original plan, the relocation was to be completed by 2025. However, the project has seen little progress due to budgetary constraints and delays in administrative procedures by the provincial government.
In response to growing public opposition among Paju citizens, Gyeonggi Province announced the "Gyeonggi Northern Grand Remodeling Project" in September last year, including the relocation of the agency to Paju in the plan. Governor Kim Dongyeon also reaffirmed his commitment to the original plan and promises, stating, "The relocation of public institutions, which is a promise to the residents of the northern region, will be carried out swiftly as planned."
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