Meeting with Woo Sangho, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs, and Ha Jungwoo, Senior Secretary for AI Future Planning
Proposals for the Southwestern Energy Innovation Growth Belt and COP33
Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeollanam-do (right), held a meeting with Lim Kigun, Second Vice Minister of Strategy and Finance, at the Seoul Regional Public Procurement Service on the 16th to propose and request cooperation for resolving key projects in Jeollanam-do. Provided by Jeollanam-do
Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeollanam-do, has been maintaining a busy schedule to ensure the inclusion of key projects in the new government's national agenda.
On the 16th, Governor Kim visited the Presidential Office and held consecutive in-depth meetings with Woo Sangho, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs, and Ha Jungwoo, Senior Secretary for AI Future Planning. During these meetings, he strongly advocated for major issues critical to Jeollanam-do's future development and balanced regional growth, including the "Southwestern Jeollanam-do Energy Innovation Growth Belt," the "Enactment of a Special Act for the Development of the Southern Coastal Area," and the "Hosting of the 33rd United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP33) in Yeosu (Southern Coast and Southern Central Region) in 2028."
Recently, Jeollanam-do announced its plan to promote the "Southwestern Jeollanam-do Energy Innovation Growth Belt" project. The project targets four cities and counties in the southwestern region?Mokpo, Yeongam, Haenam, and Muan?and aims to establish RE100-specialized industrial complexes based on abundant renewable energy, a large-scale data center cluster, and an offshore wind power cluster. Additionally, the plan includes developing a new city in the surrounding area to foster a new growth hub with a population of 500,000.
On this day, Governor Kim called for the swift enactment of the "Special Act on the Establishment and Support of RE100 Industrial Complexes and Energy New Cities," which was mentioned in the Presidential Office's announcement of the "RE100 Industrial Complex Policy." He also requested that the southwestern region of Jeollanam-do be designated as an RE100-specialized industrial complex. Above all, he focused on the early construction of the power grid infrastructure, which is an essential component of the Energy Innovation Growth Belt.
In addition, Governor Kim proposed the enactment of the "Special Act for the Development of the Southern Coastal Area" to foster the southern coastal region as a new national growth axis, as well as the establishment of the "Southern Coast Comprehensive Development Agency" in Jeollanam-do.
He also requested that the new government's national agenda include the bid to host the "33rd United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP33) in Yeosu in 2028," which involves participation from 198 countries, and that Yeosu-centered Southern Coast and Southern Central Region be designated as the host city in advance.
To restructure the struggling industries in the eastern region of Jeollanam-do, Governor Kim proposed the establishment of a "National Industrial Complex for Future Advanced Materials" covering 1.2 million pyeong in the Gwangyang and Suncheon areas, as well as the designation of a "National Advanced Strategic Industry Specialized Complex for Secondary Batteries." He also emphasized the necessity of implementing a "Mega Project for the Transformation of the Petrochemical and Steel Industries" to promote restructuring and enhance competitiveness in these sectors.
Governor Kim stated, "The inauguration of the Lee Jaemyung administration is a golden opportunity for Jeollanam-do to emerge as a key hub for national growth," and added, "I am confident that the core future projects proposed to the Presidential Office will be carried out without setbacks. We will work closely with government ministries to meticulously coordinate not only legal and institutional improvements but also the securing of budgets."
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