Moon prioritizes boosting regional economy ahead of polls

President Moon Jae-in visits a factory in Ulsan on Jan. 17. Courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae

Multiple visits to provinces show Moon's focus on 'balanced growth'

By Do Je-hae

Reviving regional economies will be at the forefront of President Moon Jae-in's priorities as Cheong Wa Dae and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea gear up for the general elections in April 2020.

Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday that the President has made 349 visits to regional areas since he was elected in May 2017. “The regional visits were organized for promoting balanced development, innovative growth and future industries. They were also designed for the President to get in touch with the people and hear their concerns,” the presidential office said in a document assessing Moon's regional visits. The document was released after Moon marked the beginning of the second half of his single five-year presidential term Sunday.

The multiple visits to the regions showed Moon's focus on regional growth through more investments and innovation, according to Cheong Wa Dae. “For the past two years and a half, the President has travelled the country from corner to corner, and has communicated with the people he met on the site.”

In particular, Cheong Wa Dae underlined the outcomes of the “regional economic tour” the President has carried out since October 2018, which has taken him to 11 cities in various parts of the country, starting with Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, on Oct. 30, 2018. He has also visited Pohang and Changwon in South Gyeongsang Province, Ulsan, Daejeon, Busan and Daegu, among others. His most recent regional economic tour took place at Asan, South Chungcheong Province, on Oct. 10, where he took part in an event at Samsung Display's factory to announce the conglomerate's investment in next-generation display technology. "The investment plan is a starting point for the country to retain its competitiveness as the world's No.1 display powerhouse. The government fully supports the development of next-generation display technology," Moon said.

Moon has also visited regional areas to announce the nation's roadmap for future industries. On Oct. 24, Moon was in Gunsan, 200 kilometers southwest of Seoul, to announce a cluster for future cars in the city, which has suffered from the closure of big companies, such as GM and Hyundai Heavy Industries, in the region. “Now, a new cluster of electric vehicles (EVs) is being created in Gunsan and Saemangeum. With an investment of 412.2 billion won by 2022, over 1,900 jobs are expected to be created,” Moon said during a signing ceremony at the Myungsin Press for the EV cluster, which will consist of five regional companies producing electric cars, buses, trucks and carts.

Cheong Wa Dae explained that Moon's visits had resulted in actual outcomes for regional growth with new projects, such as the new KTX line in the southern parts of the country linking Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, to Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province; and the establishment of a world-class tech university by 2022 in Naju, South Jeolla Province, by the power provider KEPCO.

Moon visits a market in Daegu on March 22. Courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae

Moon has put special emphasis on “balanced regional development” since the beginning of his presidency. One of the first things he did after taking office was to gather the nation's 14 mayors and governors at Cheong Wa Dae for a meeting on June 14, 2017, to discuss measures to give more administrative authority to regional governments and boost regional economies, which have long suffered from lack of jobs and new growth engines.

“In 2004, President Roh Moo-hyun declared an era of balanced national development. In the last 14 years, the government has strived to bring more industries and people to regional areas. As a result, the relocation of public agencies and the construction of innovation cities have laid the foundation for balanced national development. The Sejong City has revitalized the central part of the country,” Moon said during a speech at an event on Feb. 1, 2018, to announce a “national vision for balanced national development” in Sejong City, the nation's administrative capital launched during the previous Roh government.” Sadly, however, we still have a long way to go. The capital area, which takes up 12 percent of the country's territory, is home to 50 percent of the total population and 74 percent of the top 1,000 corporate headquarters.

The regional visits were not just about economy, but providing solace to the people who have struggled with tough times, Cheong Wa Dae said.

Moon visits a family's home during visit to Pohang on Nov. 24, 2017, following an earthquake in the industrial city in South Gyeongsang Province. Courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae

On Oct. 16. President Moon Jae-in made a public apology to victims of the Busan-Masan democratic protests during a ceremony at Kyungnam University in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. It marked the first time since the 1979 pro-democracy protests for the government to organize a ceremony to mark the occasion as a “national memorial day” and pay tribute to the victims. “For a long time, the state has not paid enough attention to the sufferings of the victims. As President, I would like to offer my deepest condolences to the bereaved families, and all victims who had to undergo brutal violence and encroachment on their human rights during the Yushin dictatorship,” Moon said.

Sampling fruit during a regional trip Courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae