Lee Jae Myung Visits Iksan: "Jeonbuk, the Land with the Roots of K-Culture and K-Food"

Second Day of Campaigning in the Honam Region

Lee Jae Myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, stated on the 16th, "I will foster Jeonbuk as a hub for K-culture and K-food industries and make it a leading region for balanced development strategies."

Lee Jae Myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, waves to supporters while walking to his vehicle after finishing a campaign speech at the East Square of Iksan Station in Jeonbuk on the 16th. Iksan - Photo by Moon Hyewon

During a campaign speech at the East Square of Iksan Station in Jeonbuk on this day, Lee said, "The power of culture protects a nation. Jeonbuk already possesses the roots of K-culture, including content, food, beauty, and music." He emphasized, "As Baekbeom Kim Gu once said, we must become a nation whose cultural power is stronger than its military. Jeonbuk can stand at the center of that."

Lee also pointed out, "The provinces are disappearing, while the metropolitan area is overcrowded to the point of bursting. If the current concentration in the metropolitan area continues, it will become impossible for this country to achieve continuous growth and development."

He continued, "Our capabilities, resources, technology, and the consciousness of our people have all improved, so we must once again adopt a balanced development strategy based on principles." He stressed, "This is not simply about consideration for the provinces; it is an essential strategy for the survival and sustainability of the Republic of Korea."

Regarding strategies for energy, education, and industrial structure transformation, he said, "The southwest coast is a treasure trove of wind and sunlight," and emphasized, "Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, and Chungnam should be developed as centers for renewable energy." He also added, "Regions that produce electricity deserve corresponding compensation. We will attract businesses through differentiated pricing, tax benefits, and location support."

On the issue of nurturing local universities and the concentration of universities in the metropolitan area, he said, "Regions that have made special sacrifices deserve appropriate compensation, but Seoul National University receives a higher per-student budget than Jeonbuk National University." He continued, "We must change the support structure that is concentrated on Seoul National University. With the determination to create ten Seoul National Universities, we will strengthen support for regional flagship national universities." He also stated, "We will create an environment where local youth do not leave by ensuring a combination of education, culture, and job opportunities."

Regarding the food industry, he said, "Jeonbuk is already a special national food cluster zone," and declared, "We will focus on nurturing K-foods such as Gim and Bibimbap, and develop Jeonbuk into a hub for exporting Hallyu foods to the global market."