Governor Park Wansu Urges People Power Party Leadership: "Work to Secure Additional National Funding and Raise Support Ratios"

People Power Party Holds Budget Policy Council for Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam

"Please ensure that Gyeongnam's key issues, which were not included in the national budget proposal, are additionally reflected during the National Assembly's review process, and that the proportion of national funding for government-led projects is increased."

On November 4, Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, made this request to the leadership and lawmakers of the People Power Party during the 'People Power Party-Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam Regional Livelihood Budget Policy Council' held in the main conference room of the provincial government office.

Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, is giving a greeting at the People Power Party-Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam Regional Livelihood Budget Policy Council held at the Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office. Photo by Lee Seryeong

Governor Park stated, "This meeting is especially meaningful as the National Assembly's budget review will be conducted in earnest starting this week."

He evaluated, "Thanks to the full support of the party leadership and lawmakers, Gyeongnam's key industries, such as defense, nuclear power, and shipbuilding, have regained vitality, and the regional economy has established a solid foundation for a new leap forward."

He further explained, "Major issues for Gyeongnam's future are being resolved one by one, including the confirmation of the Namhaean Island Connection Maritime National Road, the selection of a 1 trillion won-scale integrated marine leisure tourism city, the Gimhae-Miryang Expressway construction project, the completion of the preliminary feasibility study for the Busan-Yangsan-Ulsan metropolitan railway, and the exemption from government preliminary feasibility studies for the manufacturing AI and nuclear power industries."

He continued, "However, several bills remain pending in the National Assembly's standing committees, such as the Special Act on the Construction of the Aerospace Complex City, the Special Act on the Development of the Namhaean Region, and the partial amendment of the Water Environment Conservation Act for national-level response to algal blooms." He urged, "Please provide active support at the party level so that these can be passed as soon as possible."

He added, "For the first time, the government budget proposal for next year has surpassed 10 trillion won, reaching 11.14 trillion won, an increase of 1.5 trillion won compared to last year's 9.6 trillion won." He requested, "I hope the party will support the inclusion of projects that were not reflected in the government proposal during the National Assembly's review stage."

Participants of the People Power Party-Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam Regional Livelihood Budget Policy Council are taking a commemorative photo at the Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office. Photo by Lee Seryoung

Additionally, Governor Park appealed, "Recently, the government has been implementing government-led projects such as livelihood recovery consumption coupons and basic income for rural and fishing villages, but these are being carried out without sufficient prior consultation with local governments, placing a heavy burden on local finances."

He pointed out, "For example, the livelihood recovery consumption coupon alone requires 10% local funding, so Gyeongnam must bear 100 billion won, and for the basic income for rural and fishing villages, the government implementation requires local governments to cover 60% of the cost."

Governor Park emphasized, "If the proportion of national funding is not increased in the future, it will be virtually impossible for local governments to implement such projects." He stressed, "The government must come up with improvement measures."

Gyeongnam Province later announced that, during a closed-door meeting, it had proposed the prompt enactment of the 'Special Act on the Construction of the Aerospace Complex City' and the 'Special Act on the Development of the Namhaean Region,' which are being promoted to realize the goal of becoming one of the world's top five aerospace powers and to foster new growth industries in the Namhaean region.

They also emphasized the need for the construction of the high-speed railway connecting Dongdaegu, Changwon, and Gadeok International Airport, aiming to link major hubs nationwide within two hours and the Yeongnam region within one hour, as well as the creation of the Changwon Defense and Nuclear Power Convergence National Industrial Complex to foster Gyeongnam as one of the world's top four (G4) defense industry clusters.

They also requested the promotion of the preliminary feasibility study project for the Manufacturing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Innovation Valley and the creation of a regional AI industry ecosystem.

Gyeongnam Province identified several key national funding projects to be secured during the National Assembly's review stage for the 2026 fiscal year, including: ▲ the Geoje-Masan (National Road No. 5) road construction, ▲ the establishment of a 3D printing integrated support center specialized in the space industry, ▲ the construction of an AI-based eco-friendly aquaculture smart management center, ▲ the establishment of the National Southern Youth Training Center (AI SPACE), and ▲ the establishment of the National Southern Wildfire Prevention Center.

Governor Park stated, "These projects are directly linked to strengthening the region's industrial competitiveness, creating jobs for young people, and improving the quality of life for residents." He added, "The party, the government, and the National Assembly must work together."

About 40 participants attended the council, including People Power Party leaders such as Party Leader Jang Donghyuk, Floor Leader Song Eonseok, Policy Committee Chairman Kim Doeup, Busan Mayor Park Hyungjun, Ulsan Mayor Kim Dugyeom, Provincial Party Chairman Kang Minguk, local lawmakers, and public officials from Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam. They reported on key issues in each city and province and discussed budget policies.

Gyeongnam Province plans to strengthen its cooperation system with local lawmakers going forward, continuing all-out efforts to ensure that major issues are ultimately reflected in the national budget during the National Assembly's review process.