Chungnam Province is leveraging Gyeryong’s strengths as a defense city to focus on attracting defense institutions, while also pooling efforts to expand its industrial base and wide-area transportation network.

On the 23rd, Governor Park Soo-hyun held the 11th leg of "Chungnam Through" in Gyeryong, listening to the voices and local pending issues of citizens while sharing the 9th popularly elected provincial administration's direction and vision for Gyeryong's development.

The day's "Chungnam Through" schedule proceeded in the order of a breakfast meeting with Mayor Lee Eung-woo, a press briefing, a visit to the city council, and a dialogue with citizens.

Through the dialogue with citizens held at the Gyeryong Culture and Arts Center, Governor Park explained the implementation status of opinions received during last June's town hall meeting, answered citizens' questions and suggestions, and discussed regional development measures.

Outside the venue, the province operated an "On-site Direct Petition Office run by the Governor" to consult on and accept daily inconveniences and suggestions, ensuring that citizens who did not get a chance to speak during the dialogue could still convey their opinions.

The received opinions will go through reviews by responsible departments to systematically manage the processing procedures and results, and when deemed necessary, will be reflected in the provincial administration.

For the sustainable development of Gyeryong, the province will first strengthen activities to attract defense-related public institutions, capitalizing on its regional characteristics where the headquarters of the Army, Navy, and Air Force are located.

Based on customized attraction strategies that consider the functions of each institution and local conditions, the province plans to continuously petition the government and the National Assembly on the necessity of attracting defense-related public institutions to the province during the second wave of public institution relocations, while continuing joint responses with Gyeryong City.

The province will also expand the industrial foundation where defense-related companies and research facilities will be located.

The public-rental Knowledge Industry Center within the Gyeryong No. 2 Industrial Complex initiated its basic and detailed design in August of this year, aiming for completion in the second half of 2029.

The Gyeryong No. 3 General Industrial Complex, which was reflected in the industrial complex designation plan last August, plans to cooperate on administrative support and business attraction in accordance with necessary procedures such as the establishment and approval of the industrial complex plan.

Efforts are also accelerating to expand the wide-area transportation network to support citizens' daily lives and local industries.

For the Chungcheong East-West Expressway connecting Boryeong to Daejeon via Gyeryong, the province will jointly respond with related local governments and institutions so that it can be reflected in the national plan.

The Chungcheong Metropolitan Railway Phase 3 linking Ganggyeong and Gyeryong will be discussed so that subsequent procedures can proceed in line with the implementation status of the preceding Honam Line high-speed project, with plans to petition for the installation of Shindo Station during the preliminary feasibility study process.

The Du-ma to Noseong provincial road expansion and paving project connecting Eumsa-myeon in Gyeryong City and Noseong-myeon in Nonsan City aims for completion by 2030, managing the construction schedule to promote convenience of movement and improved accessibility to KTX Gongju Station.

The Gyeryong World Military Culture Expo, which Gyeryong City is promoting to host in 2029, will be supported to gain approval as an international event.

The province plans to review and supplement plans with Gyeryong City, and prepare contents and business ideas differentiated from the 2022 expo to respond to reviews and deliberations by related ministries.

Governor Park stated, "We will join forces with Gyeryong City so that Gyeryong’s strengths as a defense city translate into businesses, jobs, and vitality for the regional economy, and so that citizens can experience improvements in transportation conditions in their daily lives."

Governor Park plans to continue "Chungnam Through" next month in Nonsan, Seocheon, Cheonan, and Yesan.

The dialogue with residents of each city and county is broadcast live through the provincial government's official YouTube channel, "Chungnam TV," allowing residents who cannot attend the site to submit their opinions on local pending issues and daily inconveniences through real-time comments.

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