Party politics: “I am aware of concerns about labor-related corporate preferential treatment… We need to reach a grand social compromise.”

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporters Choi Pyeong-cheon, Kim Jeong-jin, and Jeong Yeon-sol = Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said on the 4th regarding the government's mega project, "We view the integrated region of Jeollanam-do and Gwangju as a test bed for mega growth."

On this day, Representative Kim held the party-government council of the party's 'Mega Project and Local Growth Special Committee' (Mega Growth Special Committee) and said, "Improving residential conditions, enhancing cultural quality, and improving the medical environment must all move together."

Representative Kim introduced the Jeonnam Gwangju 30-minute Commute Infrastructure Task Force (TF) and the Jeonnam Gwangju Cultural Infrastructure Big Deal TF, which were recently established as organizations within the party, and presented the direction for 'mega growth'.

He explained, "I asked Kim Hong-guk, the civilian chairman of the Saemangeum Committee, what to do with Jeonbuk. If houses are built as a new city next to the Saemangeum Hyundai Motors factory, Jeonbuk will be ruined. He said that since Gunsan, Jeonju, and Iksan are 30 minutes away, (the city's) residential (facilities) should be upgraded," and "Gwangju, South Jeolla Province should also be approached with the same awareness of the problem."

Regarding the cultural infrastructure big deal, CEO Kim said, “Young people cannot live without medical care and culture,” and “10 B-class cultural performance halls should be adjusted to 7 A-class specializations for ballet, musicals, etc.”

He then emphasized, “The five axes, including the central government, local governments, National Assembly, local councils, and civil society, must move together in the mega growth project,” and added, “Realistically, the party is the only one that can play a role in coordinating the five axes.”

Representative Kim also said, “There is a sense of the problem that if the metropolitan area, for example, northern Gyeonggi, Incheon, and Gangwon border areas, which have been marginalized because they are near Seoul, are marginalized in the era of regional growth, they will be double marginalized.”

Policy Committee Chairman Kwon Chil-seung said, “We are speeding up practical preparations for the mega special zone,” and added, “It is time to lay the institutional foundation for bold regulatory innovation and comprehensive support.”

He continued, “I am well aware of the concerns of the labor community regarding labor-related (corporate) preferential treatment in the (mega special zone),” and added, “To harmonize regulatory innovation to increase corporate competitiveness and protection of workers’ rights and interests, a grand social compromise process is needed to collect the opinions of the parties involved.”

Rep. Lee Eon-ju, vice-chairman of the special committee, emphasized, “There are a lot of frustrating regulations, and there is no limit to solving them all one by one,” and “a (comprehensive) mega special zone law is needed.”

Lim Ki-geun, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, said, “Through the mega special zone, we will provide unprecedented regulatory benefits to investment companies,” and added, “We will create regional growth bases with a balanced ecosystem of housing, transportation, education, medical care, culture, and small and medium-sized businesses.”

On the government side, Chief Minister Lim, Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Shin Moon-hak, and Acting Chairman Lee Byung-hun of the Presidential Local Committee were present at the party-government consultation on this day.