Sancheong County Governor Yoo Myeonghyeon Visits National Assembly, Seeks Funding for Key 2027 Projects

Focus on securing funding for key local projects, including design costs for National Routes 20 and 59
Meets with ruling and opposition lawmakers ahead of National Assembly budget deliberations, seeking cooperation to address local issues

Sancheong County in South Gyeongsang Province has asked the National Assembly for funding for major local projects to be included in the 2027 national budget, including road widening and realignment and river environment improvement.

Sancheong County Governor Yoo Myeonghyeon said he visited the National Assembly over two days, November 3 and 4, and met with lawmakers on the National Assembly Special Committee on Budget and Accounts and relevant standing committees. He explained the need for local projects and called for national funding to be included in the budget.

The visit was part of the county's efforts to secure national funding, following trips in July and October. It was intended to obtain budget allocations for major local projects during the National Assembly's review of the government's budget proposal.

[Photo provided by Sancheong County]

The county said Governor Yoo met with lawmakers Han Donghoon, Jung Hyegyeong, Heo Seongmu, Yoon Jaeok and Seo Jiyeong of the National Assembly Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, as well as Kim Taeho of the Health and Welfare Committee, Shin Seongbeom of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, and Ko Dongjin of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee. He explained the progress of the major projects and the need for budget support.

The six major projects for which Sancheong County requested national funding are: the four-lane widening of National Route 20 between Sicheon and Danseong (KRW 142.8 billion); the realignment of National Route 59 between Sancheong and Chahwang (KRW 83.8 billion); the Namgang River environment improvement project in the Saengcho district (KRW 11 billion); construction of a public Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility for herbal medicines (KRW 15 billion); development of a research base for Gyeongnam Crane (Gangwoo Crane) studies (KRW 3 billion); and construction of a Buddhist art experience center at Daewonsa Temple (KRW 2 billion).

The National Route 20 and National Route 59 projects are road infrastructure expansion projects with a combined total project cost of KRW 226.6 billion.

The National Route 20 project will widen the Sicheon-Danseong section to four lanes, while the National Route 59 project will realign the road along the Sancheong-Chahwang section.

According to Sancheong County, both projects passed a preliminary feasibility study conducted as a single package in August. The county asked for the costs of basic and detailed design services to be included in the 2027 national budget so that follow-up procedures can proceed.

In particular, Governor Yoo met with Assemblyman Shin Seongbeom, who represents Sancheong, Hamyang, Geochang and Hapcheon, and explained the need to advance the road projects and ways to secure funding for their design.

The Namgang River environment improvement project in the Saengcho district has a total cost of KRW 11 billion. It is intended to address sediment deposited in the river and the risk of flooding following the torrential rains in July 2025.

The county called for national funding for the improvement project to enhance the river's flood-control capacity and prevent further flood damage.

The public GMP facility for herbal medicines has a total project cost of KRW 15 billion. It is intended to expand the infrastructure for processing and quality control of locally produced medicinal herbs.

Sancheong County plans to establish a public quality-control facility for herbal medicines by linking existing medicinal herb production and processing facilities with the anti-aging industry infrastructure, and to lay the groundwork for attracting related industry organizations.

The project to develop a research base for Gyeongnam Crane (Gangwoo Crane) studies has a total cost of KRW 3 billion. It is intended to establish a foundation for research and education on Nammyeong Studies and the seonbi culture of the Gyeongnam region.

The county explained that it would use existing research findings and educational and training facilities to systematically study local historical and cultural resources and connect them with educational programs.

The project to build a Buddhist art experience center at Daewonsa Temple has a total cost of KRW 2 billion. It is intended to create exhibition and experience spaces featuring the region's Buddhist cultural heritage.

Sancheong County requested that the project be included in the national budget to preserve traditional culture and expand cultural tourism offerings.

Governor Yoo Myeonghyeon said, "Now that the National Route 20 and 59 projects have passed the preliminary feasibility study, we will work to secure the necessary budget so that the follow-up design process can proceed. We will continue explaining the need for these major local projects to the National Assembly and central government ministries so they can be included in the national budget."

The six projects Sancheong County proposed have a combined total cost of KRW 257.6 billion. Whether they receive national funding in the 2027 budget, and the amount allocated to each project, will be determined through the National Assembly's budget review and approval process.

For the passage of the preliminary feasibility study for the National Route 20 and 59 projects to lead to their actual commencement, whether design costs are included in the 2027 budget and the schedule for subsequent administrative procedures will be important.

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