Governor Delivers Presentation, Mayor Handles Q&A in Final Evaluation on the 21st
Clear Division of Roles Between Provincial and City Leaders
Unified Voice After Four Years of Preparation
On the 21st, at the final presentation evaluation of the "Development of Core Fusion Technology and Establishment of Advanced Infrastructure Project" conducted by the Ministry of Science and ICT, Governor Kim Youngrok (second from the right) took charge of the presentation, and Mayor Yoon Byungtae (right) handled the Q&A session. Provided by Naju City
Naju City in South Jeolla Province adopted an unprecedented strategy by having the heads of local government directly participate in the final presentation evaluation, as part of its efforts to attract a fusion research facility for artificial sun technology-a core foundation for South Korea's future energy security.
The South Jeolla Provincial Government (Governor Kim Youngrok) and Naju City (Mayor Yoon Byungtae) announced that at the final presentation evaluation for the "Development of Core Fusion Technology and Establishment of Advanced Infrastructure Project" (commonly referred to as the Artificial Sun Research Facility), conducted by the Ministry of Science and ICT on the 21st, Governor Kim Youngrok delivered the presentation while Mayor Yoon Byungtae handled the Q&A session, directly explaining the necessity of hosting the facility and the region's preparedness.
This evaluation was the final stage following the announcement on the 15th of last month, the submission of the attraction proposal on the 13th, and the on-site inspection of candidate sites on the 18th. It consisted of a 20-minute presentation and a 30-minute Q&A session.
South Jeolla Province and Naju City divided their roles clearly, with Governor Kim Youngrok in charge of the presentation and Mayor Yoon Byungtae handling the Q&A, directly addressing the evaluation committee’s technical verification.
While it is customary for directors or section chiefs to handle national research facility evaluations, South Jeolla Province and Naju City, confident in the preparations accumulated over the past four years since 2021, chose to have the heads of their local governments take the lead.
Mayor Yoon Byungtae of Naju specifically presented practical support plans prepared by the city, including site acquisition, living conditions, personnel support, and research infrastructure linkage, demonstrating his administrative expertise.
Observers noted that such a detailed explanation would have been difficult without having overseen the entire project over an extended period.
A Naju City official stated, "Having the governor present and the mayor respond is a symbolic scene that proves how long both institutions have been preparing for this project," adding, "We will ensure that the determination of Naju's 120,000 citizens and the energy innovation of the Honam region lead to tangible results."
Meanwhile, the artificial sun research facility is a key national strategic facility for achieving carbon neutrality and future energy security. If Naju City succeeds in attracting the facility, it plans to maximize synergy with the Energy Valley and emerge as a central hub for the future energy industry, linking research with commercialization.
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