Jinju Mayor Cho Kyuil Calls for Second-Phase Public Institution Relocations to Center on Innovation Cities at National Assembly

Attends National Assembly forum on second phase of public institution relocations; emphasizes concentrating institutions in existing innovation cities
Calls for linking relocated institutions with regional strategic industries and strengthening innovation cities' self-sufficiency
Outlines local priorities, including attracting the integrated headquarters of power generation public enterprises and reconsidering the separation of LH's functions

Jinju Mayor Cho Kyu-il attended a policy forum at the National Assembly on the second phase of public institution relocations, calling for relocations to focus on existing innovation cities and for public institutions to be linked with regional strategic industries.

Jinju City said Cho attended the forum, titled "National Assembly Forum on the Successful Implementation of the Second Phase of Public Institution Relocations and Ways to Promote the Development of Innovation Cities," at the National Assembly on October 22 and shared his views on the direction of the relocations and ways to develop innovation cities.

[Photo provided by Jinju City] Jinju Mayor Jo Gyuil, lawmakers and officials from innovation cities nationwide pose for a commemorative photo at a policy forum on the second phase of public institution relocations, held at the National Assembly on the 22nd. The forum discussed the direction of the relocations and ways to ensure the sustainable development of innovation cities.

The forum was hosted by lawmakers representing constituencies in innovation cities nationwide and organized by the National Council of Innovation Cities (Districts) and the Innovation City Policy Research Institute.

The forum was organized to discuss the role of existing innovation cities, the direction of public institution relocations, and ways to link relocated institutions with regional industries ahead of the government's finalization and announcement of its plan for the second phase of public institution relocations to provincial areas.

About 100 people attended the event, including lawmakers, heads of local governments belonging to the National Council of Innovation Cities, officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and experts in related fields.

Participants discussed key agenda items, including ways to make use of the infrastructure and living conditions already in place in existing innovation cities during the second phase of relocations, establishing cooperation between relocated public institutions and regional industries, and strengthening innovation cities' self-sufficiency.

Cho attended as the head of a city serving as a vice chair of the National Council of Innovation Cities and stressed the need to concentrate public institutions in existing innovation cities.

"Innovation cities are regional growth hubs established to promote balanced national development," Cho said. "The government's principle of concentrating relocated institutions in existing innovation cities should also be reflected in the actual relocation plans."

He added, "Making use of the living conditions and industrial base already established in existing innovation cities, while locating public institutions closely connected to regional strategic industries alongside them, could make the relocation policy more effective."

He also said policy coordination was needed to ensure that public institution relocations lead not only to the placement of institutions but also to the development of regional industries, the creation of jobs for young people, and improved living conditions.

"Jinju City will continue to work with member cities of the National Council of Innovation Cities on a joint response to the second phase of public institution relocations and the development of innovation cities," Cho said.

Meanwhile, in connection with the second phase of public institution relocations, Jinju City is prioritizing efforts to strengthen the functions of the Gyeongnam Jinju Innovation City and attract additional public institutions.

The city launched a committee to attract public institutions in March. In August, Mayor Cho held a press conference titled "Completing the Gyeongnam Jinju Innovation City and Achieving a Major Leap Forward in Western Gyeongnam," where he announced the region's demands.

Since then, the city has continued to petition the government over public institution relocations through activities including a citizens' rally, one-person relay protests in front of Cheong Wa Dae and the National Assembly in September, and a rally in Seoul after traveling from Sejong City.

The key issues raised by Jinju City include attracting the integrated headquarters of power generation public enterprises to Jinju, reconsidering plans to separate the functions of Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH), and concentrating institutions in existing innovation cities during the second phase of public institution relocations.

The city plans to convey these demands to the government and the National Assembly while continuing to review ways to link public institution relocation policies with regional strategic industries.

However, the institutions to be included in the second phase of public institution relocations, their specific destinations, and the schedule will be determined after the government finalizes its plans and completes the relevant procedures.

As the second phase of public institution relocations approaches, whether institutions will be concentrated in existing innovation cities has emerged as a key issue. Jinju City is calling for the integrated headquarters of power generation public enterprises to be located in the city and for a reconsideration of the separation of LH's functions. A central issue will be how much the government's future relocation plans reflect Jinju City's demands.

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