Hapcheon County Mayor Kim Yoonchul Visits Central Ministries to Present Key Local Projects Directly

Visits to the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Ministry of the Interior and Safety

Request for Government Support

Hapcheon County, South Gyeongsang Province, has begun consultations with central government ministries to secure the inclusion of major pledges of the 9th popularly elected administration and key local projects in national policies, as well as to obtain central government funds.

On the 31st, the county announced that Mayor Kim Yoonchul visited the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to explain the necessity of promoting key projects and requested government-level support and reflection in national policies.

During this visit, major pending projects promoted by Hapcheon County were discussed. These included projects in the field of energy, geological tourism, road and rail—such as regional transportation networks and station area development—as well as disaster recovery support and local government finances.

[Photo courtesy of Hapcheon County] Kim Yunchul, Governor of Hapcheon County, visited the Ministry of Climate Energy and Environment, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to explain the necessity of promoting major local projects and to request government-level support and policy reflection.

Request for Support for Odo Mountain Pumped Storage Power Plant and Hapcheon Meteorite Crater

During his visit to the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, Mayor Kim conveyed the county’s position on attracting the Odo Mountain Pumped Storage Power Plant project and requested government-level review and support for the project.

Hapcheon County explained that the pumped storage power plant can serve both as an energy storage and supply facility to address power demand, while also generating economic benefits for the region resulting from the construction of the power plant.

The county also emphasized the economic effects of construction, such as employment, regional development support, and local tax revenues, underscoring the necessity for securing the project for the locality.

However, since the pumped storage project requires a comprehensive review involving national energy policy, commercial viability, and site conditions, future government policy decisions and related procedures remain major variables for the project’s progress.

Hapcheon County also requested government support for the preservation and tourism development of the Hapcheon Meteorite Crater.

The county explained the crater’s geological value and its potential utility as an educational and tourism resource, requesting the cooperation of relevant agencies so that the groundwork for geological tourism, designation and recognition procedures for geopark candidacy could proceed smoothly.

Early Promotion of Maryeongjae Tunnel and North-South Axis Expressway

At the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the county requested the inclusion of regional transportation network expansion and key road projects in national plans.

Regarding the Maryeongjae Tunnel project, the county explained the current road conditions of National Route 24 connecting the northern part of Hapcheon County to Hapcheon-eup, along with transportation safety issues such as winter icing, and conveyed the necessity for the project.

Hapcheon County requested the ministry to review and include this project in the 8th Basic Plan for Improvement of Dangerous and Bottlenecked National Roads. The county also recommended early promotion of the expressway construction project linking Jincheon and Hapcheon to improve regional transportation access.

The county conveyed its position that, once the expressway is built, accessibility to Hapcheon would improve, which would also impact industrial, logistics, and interregional mobility conditions; therefore, national planning should reflect this project.

Additionally, the county sought the inclusion of the “Hapcheon Station Area Vitality Town Development Project,” in the second round of regional development plans to prepare for the opening of the Southern Inland Railway.

The Hapcheon Station Area Vitality Town project aims to create a community centered around the station area, integrating residential, cultural, welfare, and employment functions to improve local living conditions and support the settlement of returnees, new residents, and young people.

The county explained the need to utilize the station area as a hub for regional development, so that the changes in transportation environment resulting from the southern inland railway construction could lead to local population growth and improvements in living conditions.

Disaster Recovery and Fiscal Support for Local Agendas

At the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the county requested expanded fiscal support for local projects and disaster recovery.

Mayor Kim met with Director General Jeong Jonghun of Local Finance and explained the current status of recovery projects following last year’s heavy rain damage, requesting additional fiscal support and attention for areas where restoration is yet to be completed so that the work proceeds without setbacks.

He also discussed the fiscal environment needed to push forward major local projects and requested the government review projects requiring special allocation grants and other forms of financial support.

Hapcheon County plans to continue consulting with relevant agencies for projects among its proposals that require national planning or inclusion in the national budget, and to review implementation procedures and possibilities for securing financial resources for each project.

Mayor Kim Yoonchul stated, “To push forward key local agenda projects, it is crucial to align with the central government’s policy direction and secure necessary financial resources,” and added, “We will maintain continuous consultations with central ministries to ensure that Hapcheon’s essential projects are reflected in national plans and government budgets.”

He also stated, “We will constantly monitor the progress of transport network expansion, disaster recovery, and projects to improve local living conditions, as these are directly related to residents’ daily lives.”

Among the projects proposed during this round of suggestions, the pumped storage power plant, expressway, and railway linkage projects require policy decisions, national planning, and budget allocation by the central government. Accordingly, the outcome of further review by relevant ministries, reflection in national plans, and the process of securing central government funds are expected to be key variables in project advancement.

Visiting central ministries with its key agenda projects is an essential administrative process for Hapcheon County to secure national funds and inclusion in national plans. However, since projects such as the pumped storage plant, road and rail links, and station area development require national planning and substantial financial resources, mere proposal is insufficient. It is important to meticulously determine the priority and feasibility of each project and to follow up so that national funding is actually secured and policies are successfully implemented.

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