Gyeongsangnam-do Gov. Park Wansu Seeks People Power Party Leaders' Support to Resolve Key Issues, Secure National Funding

On November 9, Gyeongsangnam-do Governor Park Wansu met with the People Power Party’s central leadership to discuss ways to work together to resolve key issues facing the province and secure national government funding for 2027.

At the People Power Party-Gyeongsangnam-do Innovation Growth Budget Policy Council, held that day at the National Assembly Main Building, Governor Park proposed a total of 62 items, including 25 key policy issues and 37 projects requiring national government funding.

The proposals included: enacting a special act to build a space and aerospace complex city; establishing a national industrial complex in Changwon for defense and nuclear power; relocating institutions that attract investment in strategic industries in Gyeongsangnam-do, including the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT); including the Dongdaegu-Changwon-Gadeokdo New Airport route in the 5th National Rail Network Construction Plan; designating a new free economic zone in western Gyeongsangnam-do and establishing an administrative office for the zone; creating a Korea-U.S. shipbuilding industry specialized complex; designating Gyeongsangnam-do as the first mega-special zone; attracting the integrated headquarters of public power generation companies to the Gyeongnam Innovation City; keeping the Naval Academy in Gyeongsangnam-do; and establishing a Future Response Fund and improving the local finance system.

Among these, Governor Park called for cooperation on three key issues and three projects requiring national government funding: passing the Special Act on the Construction of a Space and Aerospace Complex City through the National Assembly by the end of this year to build a space and aerospace industry belt along the southern coast; swiftly establishing the Changwon National Industrial Complex for Defense and Nuclear Power to provide industrial sites needed for national strategic industries in a timely manner; and relocating key public institutions, including the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT), to Gyeongsangnam-do.

Park Wan-su (far left), governor of South Gyeongsang Province, requests cooperation and support for key policy issues and government-funded projects at the People Power Party-South Gyeongsang Province Innovation Growth Budget Policy Meeting. [Photo provided by South Gyeongsang Province]

He also called for funding to be included or increased during the National Assembly’s budget review for 37 major projects, including expanding interregional transport networks and building a foundation for the growth of national strategic industries.

These projects include: design costs for nine routes slated for inclusion in the 6th National Road and Local Road Construction Plan; funding to establish a foundation for prototype production and testing and evaluation of materials and components for advanced aircraft engines; establishing an integrated support center for 3D-printing technologies specializing in the space industry; building the Geoje-Tongyeong Expressway; establishing a testing and inspection support center for small modular reactor (SMR) components; a feasibility study for a smart port maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) training center; support projects for the planned Jinhae New Port area; establishing an AI Convergence Technology Innovation Platform; building the Gimcheon-Geoje section of the Southern Inland Railway; establishing an internationally accredited yacht training center and developing marine public spaces; a feasibility study for a hub to commercialize Physical AI in Arctic shipping-related industries; and support for smart production innovation at small and midsize shipbuilders.

About 30 people attended the council, including Governor Park Wansu; People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok; floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik; Policy Committee Chair Im I-ja; Gyeongsangnam-do Party Chair Park Sang-ung; and National Assembly members representing constituencies in the province.

Attendees pose for a commemorative photo at the “People Power Party–Gyeongsangnam-do Innovation Growth Budget Policy Consultation” held at the National Assembly Building. [Photo provided by Gyeongsangnam-do Province]

Governor Park said, “Gyeongsangnam-do’s key industries, including defense, nuclear power and shipbuilding, have an opportunity to make a fresh start. Building on the achievements of the eighth popularly elected administration, we are working with residents to achieve even greater progress for the province during the ninth administration.”

He continued, “The party’s active support is needed to address pressing issues facing Gyeongsangnam-do, including enacting the special acts for the Space and Aerospace Complex City and the development of the southern coastal region, the second phase of public institution relocations, and the establishment of the Changwon National Industrial Complex for Defense and Nuclear Power. I ask you to help secure additional funding for projects that were not included in the government’s budget proposal, as well as for national and local road construction projects.”

He particularly noted, “Local governments are facing severe financial difficulties. The government emphasizes locally led growth, but in practice, it is reducing the resources available to support local governments while increasing their share of the costs for national programs, such as the basic income program for farming and fishing communities.”

He added, “This structure of fiscal burdens does not align with the goal of locally led growth. The local finance system needs to be improved, including by increasing the share of costs covered by the national government.”

Party leader Jang said, “Gyeongsangnam-do is at the heart of South Korea’s manufacturing industry, with defense, nuclear power, shipbuilding, and space and aerospace industries concentrated here. Our economy can thrive only if Gyeongsangnam-do thrives. The party will do its utmost to enact the special acts for the Space and Aerospace Complex City and the development of the southern coastal region; expand transport networks, including through the Geoje-Tongyeong Expressway and the Southern Inland Railway; establish the Changwon National Industrial Complex; and relocate key public institutions.”

He added, “We will carefully review the key issues and budget proposals submitted by Gyeongsangnam-do and work to ensure they are included in the national budget. We will actively support the province’s next leap forward.”

Floor leader Jeong also stressed, “We need to combine artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technologies with Gyeongsangnam-do’s strong manufacturing base, backed by strategic investment at the national level.” He added, “We will work to ensure sufficient funding for the development of future industries, including SMRs, the space industry and manufacturing AI, as well as major projects such as the Southern Inland Railway and the Hansan Battle Bridge.”

Gyeongsangnam-do plans to strengthen cooperation with National Assembly members from both the ruling and opposition parties and continue an all-out effort, in line with the National Assembly’s budget review schedule, to ensure that key issues and major projects requiring national government funding for 2027 are ultimately reflected in government policies and the budget.

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