Oh Joonggi Proposes 'Gyeongbuk Growth Platform' to Presidential Office, Expands Efforts to Address Regional Issues

Meeting with Chief Presidential Secretary Hoonshik Kang

Requests for Expedited Progress on Secondary Batteries,

New Airport, and Gumi-Gunwi Expressway

Joonggi Oh, Chairman of the Democratic Party’s Gyeongbuk Provincial Committee, is accelerating the push for regional national agenda items by directly communicating with the Presidential Office following his request for support on Gyeongbuk regional issues to the party leadership.

On August 28, Oh met with Hoonshik Kang, Chief Presidential Secretary, and called for the prompt implementation of major national policy tasks and presidential campaign pledges pertaining to the Gyeongbuk region.

Hoonshik Kang, Chief of Staff to the President (right), and Jungki Oh, Chairman of the Democratic Party's Gyeongbuk Provincial Committee, Visit the Presidential Office to Promote 'Gyeongbuk Issues'
Jungki Oh Requests Early Implementation of National Tasks to Hoonshik Kang, Including Secondary Batteries, Bio Industry, Gumi-Gunwi Expressway, and TK New Airport
"Gyeongbuk's Crisis Overcoming Must Lead to Tangible Results Through Government's Balanced Development Policies"

Previously, on August 26, during the Democratic Party’s Supreme Council meeting held in Gyeongbuk, Oh also proposed active support at the central party level for resolving key local issues and securing the national budget for the following year. By meeting the Chief Presidential Secretary just two days later and once again raising regional concerns, Oh appears to be expanding engagement with the central political sphere to address Gyeongbuk’s challenges.

On this occasion, Oh provided a thorough explanation of the industrial, economic, and demographic challenges facing Gyeongbuk. He stated, “Gyeongbuk is currently confronting a triple crisis of industrial downturn, economic stagnation, and population decline. Key socio-economic indicators—including per capita personal income, household income, youth unemployment rate, and fiscal self-reliance—also continue to show difficult conditions.”

He emphasized the urgent need to advance national balanced development policies, such as the second relocation of public institutions promoted by the government, in order to decentralize the concentration of resources in the capital area and strengthen the growth base of the provinces.

Oh also requested government support for core industries and transportation infrastructure across various regions. He identified secondary batteries and hydrogen-based steelmaking in Pohang, advanced bio industry in Andong, and water industry utilizing the Nakdong River basin as future growth engines for Gyeongbuk.

In particular, he stressed the importance of swift government policy response regarding matters directly connected to Gyeongbuk, such as the construction of the Gumi-Gunwi Expressway linking Gumi and the integrated Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport, nurturing future vehicle and robotics industries, and successfully promoting the integrated Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport project.

Oh stated, “Local residents expect the government to play an active role in helping Gyeongbuk overcome its current crisis and lay the groundwork for a new leap forward. I request special attention so that these expectations can be realized through concrete policies, budgets, and project implementation that deliver real results.”

Chief Presidential Secretary Hoonshik Kang reportedly responded positively, indicating that he would carefully examine the conditions faced by Gyeongbuk and the main regional issues, and that related national policy tasks would be pursued smoothly.

Within the local political community, there is an assessment that Oh, since taking office, has been strengthening communication with local committee members, provincial councilors, and party members while actively meeting with both the central party and the Presidential Office to ensure that Gyeongbuk issues are reflected in government policies and national budget projects.

Particular attention is being paid to the extent to which this proposal will be reflected in future government policies and budgets, given that industrial restructuring in fields such as secondary batteries, bio, future vehicles, and robotics, as well as the development of metropolitan transportation networks like new airports and expressways, are directly tied to Gyeongbuk’s long-term growth potential.

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