Woo Sang-ho, governor of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province and a member of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, warmly welcomed Taebaek Mayor Lee Sang-ho of the opposition People Power Party at the provincial government headquarters in Chuncheon on Monday.
The two men share the same given name — "Sang-ho" — and both emphasized harmony and unity before taking office. At a ceremony for newly elected officials in June, Mayor Lee, who won reelection, drew loud applause from residents and Gangwon leaders when he said, "Since the governor-elect said something very similar to what I said, let the two Sang-hos work together."
Governor Woo has also frequently cited Taebaek as a model case — whether in tourism or development — and has signaled his willingness to actively support the city.
During the meeting, Mayor Lee asked the governor for provincial-level attention and support on three key issues: institutional support for the early establishment of the clean methanol project, special adjustment grants to advance local priority projects, and the construction of public housing for youth in the Samsu district.
Lee said the clean methanol project was a core initiative for securing a new growth engine for the region after the closure of its coal mines, and that active support from Gangwon Province was essential for it to take hold quickly. Taebaek asked the province to put in place institutional seed funding — including a price stabilization subsidy — to help form a stable market for the clean methanol industry, and requested support to ensure the two-phase implementation framework connecting the pilot project and the full-scale project proceeds without disruption.
Lee also raised three additional requests: installation of road heating cables to prevent icing and accidents in winter, improvements to parking facilities at traditional markets to boost visitor convenience and stimulate the local economy, and repair and reinforcement of retaining walls and slopes at a sanitary landfill to proactively prevent disasters and secure facility safety.
Governor Woo said the projects Taebaek proposed were important priorities directly tied to the region's future growth and residents' daily lives, and pledged to examine them carefully. "I will positively review what the province can do to support the smooth advancement of these local priority projects," he said.
Mayor Lee said he would strengthen the cooperative framework between the ninth directly elected Gangwon provincial administration and Taebaek so the two could tackle local challenges together and build new growth engines. "I will do my utmost to breathe new vitality into the region by pushing forward without disruption on nurturing future industries including clean methanol, advancing priority projects directly tied to residents' daily lives, and improving settlement conditions for young people," he said.
Lee also welcomed the governor's plan to supply 10,000 public rental housing units as a key provincial initiative, and said Taebaek needed to expand its public housing supply to meet local residential demand and improve conditions for young residents to put down roots.
Meanwhile, in a working-level meeting with provincial officials that day, Taebaek also requested support for the Samsu district youth public housing construction project, aimed at helping young people settle stably in the city and stemming population outflow.
Taebaek has been advancing public housing supply projects suited to local conditions in the Hwangji, Hwajeon and Cheolam districts, and plans to extend public housing supply to the Samsu and Jangseong districts to build a residential foundation for those who wish to settle in the area, including young people and the elderly.
Taebaek said the projects it raised that day were key priorities for economic recovery and improved settlement conditions, and called on Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province for continued attention and administrative and fiscal support.
abc@heraldcorp.com
