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‘It is necessary to devise practical measures to make Inno Cities self-supporting, independent cities.’
May 03, 2008
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| At a Blue House meeting yesterday with 16 mayors and provincial governors, President Lee Myung-bak asked the heads of local governments to suggest ways to modify “Inno City” development according to their needs. “I don’t think it is right for the central government to build stereotype Inno Cities without taking into consideration each region’s circumstances,” Lee said at his administration’s first meeting with local government heads. “If mayors and governors come up with their own development plans for the regions, the administration will review and support them,” Lee said. Aimed at helping development of provincial regions, the project was established during the Roh Moo-hyun administration. It calls for moving 157 of the country’s 346 state-run corporations and research institutes out of the Seoul metro area and into envisioned innovation hubs in the provinces. The sites of 10 Inno Cities were listed early in 2005: Busan, Daegu and Ulsan; Gimcheon and Jinju in the Gyeongsang provinces; Jeonju and Naju in the Jeolla provinces; Eumseong/Jincheon in North Chungcheong Province; and Wonju in Gangwon Province. Construction has begun in six of 10 Inno Cities. Recently the new administration considered overhauling the project due to its shortcomings, but the notion was met by a firestorm of protest from local governments and politicians who warned against any attempt to scrap the project. “The administration will not resolve this issue politically. If local governments make efforts, we will fully support them,” said Lee. In the meeting, Chung Jong-hwan, the minister of land, transport and maritime affairs, assured anxious local government leaders that the Inno Cities will be built. However, Chung added, “It is necessary to devise practical measures to make Inno Cities self-supporting, independent cities.” After the meeting, Lee One-koo, the governor of South Chungcheong Province, told Yonhap News he had confirmed that Lee has a “firm determination” to build the Inno Cities. President Lee told the local executives that his administration is carrying out organizational reform to make government smaller and lift regulations. “If it is more efficient to transfer central government authority to local governments, we will transfer them to local governments and the people,” said Lee. Lee Dong-gwan, Blue House spokesman, said such meetings will be held regularly to facilitate communication between central and local governments. By Choi Sang-yeon JoongAng Ilbo [soejung@joongang.co.kr] |
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