Yeongju Expands Future Growth Platform... Requests Support for Eight Core Projects from Gyeongsangbuk-do

Mayor Hwang Byungjik and Local Council Members
Meet with Governor Lee Cheolwoo
Request for Cooperation on Special Opportunity Zone,
Defense Industry Complex, and East-West Cross-Country Railway

Yeongju City has begun to strengthen its cooperation with Gyeongsangbuk-do Province in order to secure momentum for key regional issues that will determine its future competitiveness, such as the designation of a 'Special Opportunity Development Zone,' the expansion of the defense industry base, and the establishment of a wide-area transportation network.

Lee Cheolwoo, Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do (fourth from the right), is taking a group commemorative photo after discussing support for future key projects with Hwang Byungjik, Mayor of Yeongju City (sixth from the right), and members of the Gyeongsangbuk-do Council during their visit to Gyeongsangbuk-do.
[Photo by Yeongju City]

On August 10, Yeongju City visited the Gyeongsangbuk-do Provincial Government office to propose eight core projects aimed at securing future growth engines and addressing local issues, and requested active support and cooperation from the province.

On the same day, Hwang Byungjik, Mayor of Yeongju, along with provincial council members Woo Chungmu, Im Museok, and Heo Jihoon, met with Lee Cheolwoo, Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do, to explain the necessity and justification for the city's major current projects.

They then visited the relevant bureaus and departments of the provincial government in succession to share the progress of each project, discuss future tasks, and consult on practical support measures such as securing national and provincial funding and navigating administrative procedures.

The eight projects proposed by Yeongju City are as follows: ▲Designating Yeongju as a Special Opportunity Development Zone ▲Establishing the Joje General Industrial Complex to attract defense companies ▲Constructing a golf course in Yeongju ▲Promoting the Yeongju Carbon-Free Power Project ▲Building the East-West Cross-Country Railway in the central region and relocating the Yeongdong Line urban section ▲Improving road alignment on the Yeongju–Buseok Provincial Road ▲Establishing a foundation for the industrialization of future foods and natural products based on plant cell culture ▲Building a large-scale indoor playground for children.

In particular, the city is focusing its capabilities on establishing a new industrial ecosystem linked to the defense industry, centering on the Advanced Bearing National Industrial Complex.

To this end, they requested active support to ensure that Yeongju would be included in Gyeongsangbuk-do's Special Opportunity Development Zone plan, as well as cooperation so that the establishment of the Joje General Industrial Complex, a foundation for attracting defense companies, and its follow-up administrative procedures can proceed promptly.

Alongside expanding the industrial base, the construction of a wide-area transportation network to dramatically improve accessibility to Yeongju was also raised as a key issue. The city asked Gyeongsangbuk-do to actively support the inclusion of the East-West Cross-Country Railway in the Fifth National Railroad Network Construction Plan.

They also explained the need to relocate the Yeongdong Line urban section to improve the spatial structure of the city center and the efficiency of railway usage, as well as the necessity of improving the alignment of the Yeongju–Buseok provincial road for greater convenience and road safety between regions.

In the future industries field, the city outlined its plan to diversify Yeongju's industrial structure and secure new growth engines by promoting the industrialization of future foods and natural products through plant cell culture technology and implementing the carbon-free power project.

Projects closely tied to residents' daily lives were also included. The large-scale indoor children's playground, a key pledge of the ninth directly elected administration, is designed to expand children's leisure and cultural infrastructure in northern Gyeongsangbuk-do and address the low birth rate. The city requested provincial funding support to ensure the project's stable advancement.

Hwang Byungjik, Mayor of Yeongju, and a member of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Assembly united in their purpose, visited the Gyeongbuk Province to propose support for future core projects (Meeting with Governor Lee Cheolwoo).
[Photo by Yeongju City]

Mayor Hwang Byungjik stated, "The projects we have proposed are key tasks for upgrading Yeongju's industrial structure and improving transportation and living conditions, which are essential for securing future competitiveness. We will build a close cooperative system with the province to ensure these projects deliver real results."

He went on to say, "We will continue to identify strategic projects that can draw national funding and drive regional development, visiting the central government and the provincial government directly to find solutions for outstanding issues."

Following its proposal of regional core projects and the need for national funding at the National Assembly in July, Yeongju City is now expanding its external cooperation efforts for the execution of ninth-term core projects by visiting Gyeongsangbuk-do Province.

This visit to the provincial government goes beyond merely requesting individual project budget allocations; it aims to simultaneously reshape Yeongju's future industrial landscape, wide-area transportation networks, and living infrastructure, making it particularly significant.

In particular, it remains to be seen whether the plan to connect the Advanced Bearing National Industrial Complex with the defense industry and to improve accessibility through enhanced rail and road networks will lead to national projects and investment attraction, which will be key determinants in the success or failure of Yeongju's future growth strategy.

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