Six Key Projects Including Chungnam Innovation City Science High School and Asan Police Hospital Requested for Budget Allocation
"Chungnam Leads in National Trade and Exports; Government Investment Must Follow"
Chungnam Province has launched an all-out effort to usher in the era of "12 trillion won in national funding" next year.
On August 8, Governor Kim Tae-heum visited the Seoul Government Complex to meet with Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Koo Yoon-cheol, requesting the inclusion of six major Chungnam projects in the government budget.
Governor Kim outlined a total of six key national funding projects: the establishment of a science high school affiliated with KAIST in Chungnam Innovation City; the construction of Asan Police Hospital; the creation of a Korean-style Global Smart Farm Export Support Center; the construction of the Chungnam National Cemetery for Patriots and Veterans; the installation of docking facilities at Gyeokryeolbiyeoldo in Taean; and the raising of the eligibility threshold for preliminary feasibility studies.
Governor Kim emphasized, "Last year, Chungnam ranked first in the nation in trade surplus and second in exports. The government should provide investment and financial support commensurate with Chungnam's role in driving the national economy."
The KAIST-affiliated science high school in Chungnam Innovation City is scheduled to be established by 2028, with a total project cost of 84.1 billion won. Governor Kim requested the allocation of 3.2 billion won for design costs in next year's budget.
He stated, "A science high school is an essential infrastructure for nurturing talent in the semiconductor and mobility sectors, as well as for improving the local settlement environment."
The Asan Police Hospital will be the only specialized public medical facility for police officers in Chungnam, with a planned investment of 177 billion won by 2028.
Governor Kim asserted, "This hospital is indispensable for strengthening medical welfare for police officers and ensuring public healthcare in the region," requesting both the approval of the preliminary feasibility study and the allocation of 7.5 billion won for design costs next year.
The Smart Farm Export Support Center will be established within the Seosan Bio-Wellbeing Special Zone, with a total investment of 45 billion won.
Governor Kim suggested, "It will serve as a forward base for introducing advanced agricultural technology to the global market," and requested 2.25 billion won for next year's design and construction costs.
The Chungnam National Cemetery for Patriots and Veterans is planned with a budget of 49.5 billion won by 2031. Governor Kim pointed out, "Chungnam is the only province in the country without a national cemetery for patriots and veterans, making it urgent to address the issue of honoring national heroes." He requested 200 million won for next year's feasibility study service costs.
The Gyeokryeolbiyeoldo docking facility project aims to strengthen the function of national coastal ports and secure bases for maritime territory protection, with a total project cost of 47.8 billion won.
Governor Kim explained, "This infrastructure is essential as an emergency shelter for ships during bad weather and as a maritime security base," and requested 2.7 billion won for next year's detailed design costs.
Additionally, he emphasized the need to raise the eligibility threshold for preliminary feasibility studies from the current 50 billion won to 100 billion won, in order to lower barriers to promoting large and medium-sized local projects.
Meanwhile, the province secured a record-high 1.1078 trillion won in national funding this year, and has set its goal for next year at 1.23 trillion won.
The province plans to intensify its efforts to maximize the inclusion of its projects in the government budget by the submission deadline of September 3.
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