Korea Enterprises Federation affiliate issues joint statement with business community

Calls to keep power company headquarters, naval academy in region

Jinju mayor leads relay of solo protests in Seoul

Province to hold mass provincial rally next month

The Korea Enterprises Federation's South Gyeongsang Province chapter (left) issues a joint statement with the regional business community at the Grand Mercure Ambassador in Changwon on Wednesday, calling for public institutions to be relocated to South Gyeongsang Province. Jinju Mayor Jo Gyu-il staged solo protests in front of Government Complex Sejong on Sept. 9 and in front of Cheong Wa Dae and the National Assembly on Sept. 10. [South Gyeongsang Province, Jinju City]
The Korea Enterprises Federation's South Gyeongsang Province chapter (left) issues a joint statement with the regional business community at the Grand Mercure Ambassador in Changwon on Wednesday, calling for public institutions to be relocated to South Gyeongsang Province. Jinju Mayor Jo Gyu-il staged solo protests in front of Government Complex Sejong on Sept. 9 and in front of Cheong Wa Dae and the National Assembly on Sept. 10. [South Gyeongsang Province, Jinju City]

South Gyeongsang Province and its communities have launched an all-out campaign to attract and retain public institutions as the government's second round of public institution relocations and public-sector consolidation moves into full swing. Solo protests by regional figures — led by Jinju Mayor Jo Gyu-il — have continued in Seoul day after day, while the province's business community has issued a joint statement pressing the government and stepped up pressure on multiple fronts.

The Korea Enterprises Federation's South Gyeongsang Province chapter issued a joint statement with the regional business community at the 337th labor-management breakfast seminar, held Wednesday at the Grand Mercure Ambassador in Changwon, calling for public institutions to be relocated to the province. About 200 business leaders and executives attended, including Lee Sang-yeon, chairman of the federation's South Gyeongsang chapter, and Choi Jae-ho, chairman of the South Gyeongsang Chamber of Commerce and Industry Council.

Through the statement, the business community strongly urged the relocation of key public institutions — including the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology — to South Gyeongsang Province in connection with the region's strategic industries such as shipbuilding, defense, nuclear power and aerospace; the establishment of a consolidated headquarters for state-owned power companies at the South Gyeongsang Innovation City; and the retention of the Naval Academy in Jinhae. The statement particularly said the principle cited by the president — "the farther from the greater Seoul area, the greater the support" — must be faithfully reflected in the second round of relocations as well.

The business community made clear that South Gyeongsang Innovation City is the optimal location for a consolidated power company headquarters, describing it as the geographic center of the five state-owned power companies' headquarters nationwide and an area with excellent living conditions for stable settlement. It also argued that using the existing Korea South-East Power infrastructure could save more than 330 billion won ($244 million) in new construction and relocation costs. The statement called for the Naval Academy — which has been based in Jinhae for 80 years — to remain there to preserve its history and identity.

Jinju is also raising the level of mobilization to complete its innovation city, which it says is tied to the livelihoods of 350,000 residents. After Mayor Jo staged solo protests in front of Government Complex Sejong on Sept. 9 and in front of Cheong Wa Dae and the National Assembly on Sept. 10, community figures from across the city have joined in a relay of demonstrations.

Kim Taek-se, chairman of the Jinju City Sports Council, joined on Friday; Heo Seong-du, chairman of the Jinju Chamber of Commerce and Industry, on Monday; and Lee Bo-hwa, chairwoman of the Jinju City Women's Organizations Council, on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Song Gyun-ho, chairman of the Jinju Defense Industry Enterprise Council, became the fifth participant, staging a solo protest in front of Government Complex Sejong.

The protesters spoke in unison, calling for resolution of three key issues: a review of plans to separate functions of Korea Land and Housing Corporation, relocation of the consolidated power company headquarters to Jinju, and consolidation of public institutions into existing innovation cities during the second round of relocations.

Mayor Jo visited the National Assembly on Tuesday to meet with Rep. Kim Jeong-ho, chairman of the Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee, and requested support for bringing the tentatively named Korea Power consolidated headquarters — to be formed through the merger of five power companies — to Jinju. Jo conveyed the city's position that the existing Korea South-East Power headquarters could be put to immediate use and that the city would provide tailored support, including land for new construction or expansion to match the scale of the future integrated organization.

Jinju plans to deliver a petition bearing more than 120,000 signatures from residents to Cheong Wa Dae, the National Assembly and relevant government ministries, alongside the ongoing relay protests that have spread to sports, business and women's groups.

South Gyeongsang Province also plans to solidify a full-scale joint response with the community. The province said it will broaden its coalition with the business community and political circles, and next month hold a large-scale provincial rally to unite the region's full strength — followed by a collective push including protests in Seoul to attract and retain public institutions.


ook967@heraldcorp.com