Rep. Kim Nam-kuk of the Democratic Party of Korea [provided by the lawmaker's office]
Rep. Kim Nam-kuk of the Democratic Party of Korea [provided by the lawmaker's office]

Rep. Kim Nam-kuk of the Democratic Party of Korea, who represents Ansan-gap in Gyeonggi Province, said Tuesday he had pressed Prime Minister Han Seong-sook and the ministers of land, trade and budget on key local issues, youth welfare and regional fiscal concerns at the 22nd National Assembly's Budget and Accounts Special Committee comprehensive policy session held Monday.

At the session, Kim pressed Land Minister Kim Yun-deok hard on normalizing the GTX-C rail line project, which has been delayed two and a half years due to disputes over construction costs. The minister said the committee would clear the project and finalize the project financing agreement Tuesday, adding that the ministry would "definitely submit a ground-breaking plan in the second half of the year to ensure construction begins without fail."

Kim also urged the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to take direct charge of every step of the Sinansan Line double-track railway project — currently 72.6 percent complete — including tunnel restoration and rolling stock delivery, to prevent further delays in its opening. He said an extension of the Sinansan Line and the creation of a new Xi station were essential to serve the roughly 7,600 households in the Grand City Xi development and the more than 50,000 users expected at Ansan Science Valley, and urged that both be included in the ministry's Fifth National Railway Network Construction Plan.

Turning to Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan, Kim called on the government to put in place national-level incentives to genuinely activate the Ansan Science Valley (ASV) free economic zone.

"We cannot repeat the paradox of the past, where only real estate prices rose while companies fled," Kim said, urging the minister to build a comprehensive framework that attracts advanced industry and R&D firms rather than relying on simple pre-sales. Minister Kim said the ministry would "think together and find answers so that new companies can locate in the free economic zone and create jobs."

Kim also challenged Prime Minister Han over what he called structural flaws in the "Youth Future Savings" program, which has drawn 744.6 billion won ($538 million) in public funds. Citing data from the National Assembly Future Research Institute and other sources, Kim said the early withdrawal rate among young people contributing less than 100,000 won a month reached 39.4 percent. Only 0.9 percent of those contributing the maximum amount withdrew early — a gap of 40 times between the two groups.

"Job loss and income decline account for 39 percent of withdrawals, and urgent cash needs for 33 percent — meaning the young people who need the benefit most are the first to drop out," Kim said, urging the government to act. Prime Minister Han said she would "look closely at the point where smaller contributions fail to achieve the goal of asset formation" and refine the program's design to better reflect irregular income and varying employment types.

Kim said he had conveyed the urgent concerns of Ansan residents to the relevant ministries without reservation and secured meaningful commitments in return. "I will continue to monitor every issue from the National Assembly level — the transport ground-breakings pledged at the budget committee, youth and regional budgets, and all other pending matters — to make sure they are carried out without delay," he said.


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