Translation result.
At a town-hall meeting chaired by President Lee Jae-myung, local officials and residents raised a range of pressing issues facing Chungbuk, increasing expectations that the government will address them.
The president spoke at the event at Osco in Cheongju on March 13 about waste from the Seoul metropolitan area being brought into Chungbuk.
“Because Chungbuk borders the Seoul metropolitan area, it bears spillover effects,” he said. “I’ve heard residents here are very upset about landfill problems. Since the capital region hasn’t been able to handle its waste, a lot of it appears to be going into neighboring Chungbuk. Many transmission lines also run through the area.”
He added that the province takes on many burdens while losing economic opportunities, so feelings of grievance and relative deprivation are understandable. “We need to address these problems one by one, and I see signs of progress,” he said.
The president also addressed proposed administrative mergers. “We suggested moving from a one-center model to a five-center model — Bu·Ul·Gyeong (Busan·Ulsan·Gyeongnam), Honam, Daegu·Gyeongbuk, and Chungcheong — to develop these regions on par with the capital,” he said. “But Chungbuk faces a problem: if Daejeon and South Chungcheong merge, Chungbuk may start asking, ‘What will happen to us?’”
“Where possible, I think merging at a broader metropolitan level would boost regional competitiveness,” he continued. “Regional integration is likely inevitable. Chungbuk has to consider whether to pursue an independent path or to integrate administratively with South Chungcheong and Daejeon.”
He emphasized that while addressing immediate living conditions is important, policymakers must also consider how the next generation will establish themselves, access opportunities, and build a competitive region.
In subsequent presentations, officials outlined key priorities for Chungbuk’s future development.
Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Kim Yoon-deok laid out four development priorities for Chungbuk and pledged support to revitalize Cheongju International Airport by constructing a runway for private aircraft, expanding the passenger terminal, and enlarging the apron.
He also said the government would upgrade the JTX express service linking the capital region and Cheongju Airport, improve the Cheonan–airport rail line, secure additional commercial flight slots, and expand exclusive air-service rights for regional airports.
Other measures discussed included expanding CTX and local transport networks, establishing two new national industrial complexes focused on biotech, developing Cheongju as a hydrogen city, and fostering region-specific industries.
Industry Minister Kim Jeong-gwan pledged support for creating a high-tech industrial triangle centered on semiconductors, secondary batteries, and biotech. Second Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Lee Hyung-hoon said the administration would develop Chungbuk into a bio-health industry hub, beginning with the K-Bio Square.
A provincial official said local expectations are high because so many core issues were raised. “We will forward regional priorities through multiple channels,” the official added.
The town hall was attended by Chungbuk Governor Kim Young-hwan; local lawmakers Im Ho-seon, Lee Gwang-hee, Lee Yeon-hee, Lee Kang-il, and Song Jae-bong; and Chungbuk figures including Shin Yong-han, acting chair of the Presidential Committee on the Local Era.
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