[12th Jeonbuk Provincial Council Review] From Establishing the Special Self-Governing Province to Restoring the Saemangeum Budget, a Key Problem Solver

Securing Future Growth Engines Through Legislation, Oversight, and Budget Review
Reforming Systems for Youth, Welfare, Education, Industry, and Safety
Field-Oriented Legislative Activities

As the 12th Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Provincial Council concludes its four-year legislative term, it is being recognized for playing a significant role in supporting the launch of Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province, restoring the Saemangeum budget, and promoting future industries, among other major regional issues. During this historic period marked by the establishment of the special self-governing province, the council engaged in a wide range of legislative activities, including institutional reforms, addressing regional challenges, fostering future industries, and expanding welfare.

View of Jeonbuk Provincial Council.

Launched in July 2022, the 12th Provincial Council has, over the past four years, focused on improving the quality of life for residents and strengthening regional competitiveness through its core functions of legislation, budget review, and administrative oversight. In particular, the council established an institutional foundation during the launch of Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province and achieved policy results in areas such as the Saemangeum secondary battery specialized complex, promotion of high-tech industries, welfare expansion, and improvement of the educational environment.

Most notably, when the budget for Saemangeum social overhead capital (SOC) was drastically cut, the council formed a fact-finding response team and mobilized a province-wide campaign, contributing to the restoration of government funding. The council also continued institutional reform efforts to expand the number of council members and secure Jeonbuk’s share, raising its voice for strengthening local government capabilities.

Innovation in Council Operations and Support for Special Committees

First, the Operations Committee focused on enhancing integrity and transparency.

The committee established an ordinance for reporting misconduct and protecting whistleblowers, setting up an internal monitoring system. It also strengthened the review standards for official overseas business trips by council members, instituting measures to prevent unnecessary travel. Through the ESG Management Practice Ordinance, values of environmental, social responsibility, and transparent management were implemented in council operations. The committee actively supported key special committees on issues such as the population crisis, Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant, high-tech strategic industries, and carbon neutrality, contributing to the resolution of regional challenges.

Additionally, the council operated regular consultative systems with the executive branch and enhanced legislative and audit capabilities through member workshops.

Establishing Policy Foundations for Youth, Communication, and Balanced Development

The Planning and Administration Committee focused on youth policies and expanding communication with residents.

By enacting ordinances for the creation of youth-specialized districts and the installation and operation of youth spaces, the committee established an institutional foundation to attract and retain young people in the region. Ordinances promoting resident communication and supporting at-risk youth are also cited as major achievements.

The committee visited key organizations such as the Jeonbuk Research Institute, International Cooperation Promotion Agency, and Global Youth Leader Center to gather on-site opinions, and urged the executive branch to develop a clear rationale to ensure Jeonbuk is not marginalized in the national balanced development strategy known as '5 Poles, 3 Specialized Areas.'

Addressing Agricultural, Welfare, and Environmental Issues

The Agriculture, Welfare, and Environment Committee focused on protecting the rights and interests of farmers and addressing welfare blind spots.

The committee consistently monitored agricultural issues such as falling rice prices, rising input costs, and damage from climate disasters, urging national-level countermeasures.

In the welfare sector, the committee worked to build an integrated care support system and expanded support for caregivers, elderly people with disabilities, and families with newborns. Public-private forums were also held to explore responses to the super-aged society.

In the environment sector, the committee conducted on-site inspections in areas affected by pine wilt disease and algal blooms in Okjeong Lake, seeking solutions through field-oriented legislative activity. The council, in particular, continuously advocated to the government and the National Assembly regarding local issues such as establishing a public medical school, canceling the relocation plan for the Rural Development Administration, and securing funding for flood recovery, representing Jeonbuk’s interests.

Promoting Advanced Industries and Responding to the Livelihood Economy

The Economy, Industry, and Construction Committee concentrated on fostering advanced industries centered around Saemangeum.

The committee enacted ordinances to promote business and attract investment, as well as ordinances supporting talent innovation in advanced industries, laying the groundwork for future industries such as secondary batteries and artificial intelligence (AI).

It also amended the ordinance on urban and residential environment improvement to promote better living conditions, and enacted an ordinance to support and foster the seaweed industry, strengthening the competitiveness of the fisheries sector.

Responding to crises in the livelihood economy was also a key activity. During the payment settlement delays involving TMON and WEMAKEPRICE, the committee visited affected companies to assess support measures, and as economic uncertainty grew following the impeachment crisis, it held a forum to explore ways to revitalize the local economy.

Culture and Tourism Promotion and Strengthening Safety Nets

The Culture, Safety, and Firefighting Committee simultaneously pursued disaster prevention and the expansion of culture and tourism policies.

The committee enacted ordinances to prevent fires in livestock facilities and electrical disasters, strengthening the foundation for public safety. It also addressed social isolation by enacting an ordinance to support overcoming and preventing loneliness.

Ordinances supporting families with multiple children and fostering the workation industry are recognized as representative policy examples linking welfare and the tourism sector. Committee members visited trauma resuscitation centers, firefighting sites, and cultural content industry facilities to listen to on-site challenges and seek policy improvements.

Expanding Educational Welfare and Guaranteeing Commuting Rights

The Education Committee focused its efforts on expanding student welfare and educational diversity.

Through the enactment of ordinances for customized integrated student support, the operation of 'On-Gil' buses, and free commuting rights, the committee improved access to education. It also introduced ordinances supporting bilingual education for students from multicultural families and promoting the donation of surplus school meals.

The committee responded to diverse educational needs by enacting ordinances supporting the International Baccalaureate (IB) program and the Free Semester System, and strengthened support for vulnerable groups through ordinances promoting special education and supporting the establishment of special classes.

It also operated a special committee on the integration of early childhood education and care, preparing for integrated policies for young children, and continued field-based legislative activities by visiting schools to hear directly from parents and staff.

Chairman Moon Seungwoo stated, "It has been a time of relentless effort to resolve regional issues and stabilize residents’ livelihoods," and added, "I hope that, going forward, close communication with the central government will realize the value of local autonomy and ensure that the voices of residents are faithfully reflected in both provincial and national administration."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.