Jinju Forestry and Gardening Groups Join Solo Protests Urging Action on Innovation City Issues

Three-day relay of solo protests held in front of Government Complex Sejong from Oct. 14
Representatives of the forestry cooperative, citizens’ gardeners association and Forest Love Federation join protests
Call on government to address three key issues, including bringing the integrated headquarters of power generation public enterprises to Jinju

Representatives of forestry and gardening organizations in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, took part in a relay of solo protests calling for the government to reflect key issues related to Gyeongnam Jinju Innovation City in its policies.

Jinju City said representatives of local forestry and gardening organizations held relay solo protests in front of the Government Complex Sejong for three days, from October 14 to 16.

The protest was joined by Jeong Deokgyo, head of the Jinju City Forestry Cooperative; Kim Jongjin, president of the Jinju Citizens’ Gardeners Association; and Mun Ssangsu, head of the Jinju City branch of the Forest Love Federation.

[Photo provided by Jinju City] Jeong Deokgyo, head of the Jinju Forestry Cooperative; Kim Jongjin, chair of the Jinju Citizens' Gardeners Association; and Mun Ssangsu, head of the Jinju branch of the Forest Love Federation, have been holding a one-person relay protest in front of the Government Complex Sejong since the 14th, calling on the government to incorporate three key issues concerning the Gyeongnam Jinju Innovation City into its policies. The protest runs through the 16th.

In front of the Government Complex Sejong, they raised key policy issues related to Gyeongnam Jinju Innovation City and called for the government to review them and reflect them in its policies.

The participants presented three main demands: bringing the headquarters of the integrated power generation public enterprises to Jinju; reconsidering the functional separation of Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH); and prioritizing existing innovation cities in the second relocation of public institutions.

The call to bring the headquarters of the integrated power generation public enterprises to Jinju reflects the local community’s demand that, if the integration of power generation public enterprises goes ahead, the integrated headquarters be located in Jinju.

The call to reconsider the functional separation of LH is intended to ensure that the impact on the operation of institutions in Jinju Innovation City and on the local economy is taken into account as public institutions’ functions are adjusted.

Regarding the second relocation of public institutions, the participants conveyed their position that the relocation policy should focus on existing innovation cities to boost its effects on balanced regional development.

The forestry and gardening organizations involved in the protest have worked on activities including conserving the local natural environment and improving the living environment.

The participants also said that, for the city’s continued development, policies should consider residential conditions, including improvements to the living environment, alongside the expansion of its industrial and economic base.

Jinju City has identified attracting the headquarters of integrated power generation public enterprises, reconsidering the functional separation of LH, and the second relocation of public institutions as the three key issues related to Gyeongnam Jinju Innovation City, and is calling on the government to review relevant policies.

Representatives of various local groups, including business organizations, civil society groups, youth organizations, and veterans’ groups, are also taking part in the relay solo protests.

The city plans to continue conveying local community views on these issues and monitoring the government’s policy-making process.

The relay solo protests have drawn attention because, following business organizations and civil society groups, representatives of forestry and gardening organizations have also joined in expressing their views on issues related to Jinju Innovation City.

Jinju City’s calls to attract the headquarters of integrated power generation public enterprises, reconsider the functional separation of LH, and pursue the second relocation of public institutions are policy issues that could affect the local economy and the placement of public institutions.

However, these issues require consideration of several factors, including the government’s approach to operating public institutions, its policies on balanced national development, and adjustments to the functions of individual institutions.

Therefore, independently of the local community’s demands, it is necessary to verify the government’s specific policy direction and implementation schedule, as well as the positions of the relevant institutions.

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