On December 2, Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, visited the National Assembly and requested bipartisan leadership to cooperate on the enactment of the Yeonghonam Win-Win Bills, namely the "Special Act on the Development of the Southern Coastal Area" and the "Special Act on the Construction of Aerospace Complex City."
Governor Park met in succession with Bok Giwang, Secretary of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, Song Eon-seok, Floor Leader of the People Power Party, Kim Byunggi, Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Kwon Youngjin, Secretary of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee from the People Power Party. He emphasized the necessity and urgency of enacting the two special acts and urged the National Assembly to move forward with swift legislation.
Members of the National Assembly representing the Gyeongnam region-Kim Jongyang, Jeong Jeomsik, Lee Jonguk, and Seo Cheonho-also attended, lending their support to the need for the special acts.
Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, met with Kim Byung-ki, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (left in the left photo), and Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the People Power Party. Provided by Gyeongnam Province
At the meeting, Governor Park stated, "The Special Act on the Development of the Southern Coastal Area and the Special Act on the Construction of Aerospace Complex City are key bills that will simultaneously achieve balanced national development and secure future growth engines. To elevate the potential of the southern coast to a world-class level, it is essential to promptly enact these two special acts."
He particularly stressed, "Although our southern coast boasts the best tourism resources in Korea, it faces multiple overlapping regulations, including protected mountain areas, fisheries resource protection zones, and national parks. As a result, the regulatory burden is more than four times greater than that of the east and west coasts. Since the 1960s, islands and coastal areas have remained largely undeveloped, making regulatory reform an urgent and unavoidable task."
He continued, "To establish an international marine and tourism belt together with Gyeongnam, Jeonnam, and Busan, regulatory reform and supportive special acts are essential. Transforming the southern coast into a national growth engine is the only way for regions outside the Seoul metropolitan area to overcome the risk of extinction."
He also explained, "For the national aerospace industrial complex in Gyeongnam and the national space launch vehicle industrial complex in Jeonnam to function properly, it is crucial to form a cluster that brings together industry, academia, and research institutes. The nation must provide the infrastructure for research institutions and skilled professionals to reside, so that Korea can rise as a global powerhouse in aerospace."
Gyeongnam Province reported that the bipartisan leadership who attended the meeting expressed their understanding of the Yeonghonam Win-Win Bills and stated their intention to support them at the National Assembly level.
Governor Park Wansu of Gyeongnam Province (left) is discussing documents related to the enactment of the Yeonghonam Win-Win Bills, including the "Special Act on the Development of the Southern Coastal Area" and the "Special Act on the Construction of Aerospace Complex City," together with Congressman Kim Jongyang (center) and Congressman Kwon Youngjin. Provided by Gyeongnam Province
On this day, Gyeongnam Province visited the National Assembly to convey the aspirations of local residents regarding the "Special Act on the Development of the Southern Coastal Area," which has been pending in a standing committee since its proposal in June last year, and the "Special Act on the Construction of Aerospace Complex City," jointly proposed by Gyeongnam and Jeonnam on December 2 with the participation of 42 lawmakers from both parties.
The Special Act on the Development of the Southern Coastal Area was designed to foster the southern coast as a new axis of growth for Korea, as the region faces widening regional disparities due to the deepening concentration in the Seoul metropolitan area. The southern coast is a hub for marine tourism as well as key national industries such as aerospace, defense, shipbuilding, and energy.
The special act includes provisions for: ▲ improvement of excessive regulations ▲ establishment of the Southern Coastal Comprehensive Development Agency under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport ▲ exemption from preliminary feasibility studies ▲ creation of a special account ▲ reduction of financial burdens ▲ designation of tourism promotion districts and river/island tourism activation zones, and ▲ advancement of marine tourism infrastructure.
The Special Act on the Construction of Aerospace Complex City is a bill to establish a state-led "K-Aerospace Complex City" equipped with an aerospace industry-academia-research cluster and excellent residential environment.
The bill contains provisions for: ▲ establishment of the Aerospace Complex City Construction Promotion Team within the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport ▲ creation of a special account ▲ exemption from preliminary feasibility studies ▲ nurturing talent and promoting industry-academia-research collaboration ▲ special measures for attracting domestic and foreign companies, professionals, and investment.
After signing a win-win cooperation agreement with Jeonnam Province on September 29, Gyeongnam Province plans to continue meeting with bipartisan leadership and related standing committees, together with Jeonnam Province and Busan City, to explain the necessity of the two special acts and expand consensus.
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