Gyeongsangbuk-do Gov. Lee Cheol-woo stressed that, “The provincial era is a prerequisite task to make a new Korea.” The following are excerpts of Gov. Lee’s New Year’s message.
Even though the New Year has dawned, the COVID-19 pandemic has been protracted, and an economic recession has been foreshadowed.
“Like a rabbit which demonstrates greater power in a crisis and leaps over barriers with wisdom, if all join forces amid the current hardships, I wish that this year will be a year of making a leap forward with a new hope by overcoming them wisely,” he said.
“The 8th term autonomy Gyeongsangbuk-do provincial government was inaugurated with a historic mission of Korea’s provincial era and strong support. The presidential transition committee inaugurated a balanced regional development task force team and came out with a national agendum of ‘provincial era.’”
Gyeongsangbuk-do Gov. Lee said, “I serve as chairman of the Governors Association of Korea and vice chairman of the Central Regional Cooperation Association, to be a spokesman of Korea’s provincial era.
The Gyeongsangbuk-do provincial government inaugurated the Provincial Era Policy Bureau and framework for examples on Korea’s provincial era, including not only balanced development and decentralization, but also manpower, education and policies on foreigners.
“Provincial era is a prerequisite task to make a new Korea. Korea has a proud history of having achieved economic development and democracy at once, but concentration on the Seoul metropolitan area, lasting more than 50 years, has driven youth into a vortex of competition and deprived people of happiness and hope,” Lee said.
“The days have to come when working and learning opportunities overflow everywhere in Korea, and people converge at provincial areas once again. Subsequently, ‘people’s happiness era’, in which diverse values and lifestyles are respected, will be ushered in.
“I’m sure that the nation will finally be a respected country if successful experiences and intrinsic values, such as economic development, democratization, Saemaeul Movement and hallyu (Korean Wave) are shared with international society and they have turned into general values,” Gyeongsangbuk-do Gov. Lee said.
“I’m running the Gyeongsangbuk-do provincial government with strong conviction that our Gyeongbuk is a land that is destined to be successful and cannot but succeed. In 2023, the Year of Rabbit, Gyeongsangbuk-do will open a revolutionary provincial era so that Korea’s history of miracles can lead to greater success.”
“We’ll endeavor to make a nation full of fairness and happiness in which youth can succeed regardless of where they live. We’ll make our utmost to raise the pride of Gyeongsang-do residents who have spearheaded Korea’s history of success,” Gyeongsangbuk-do Gov. Lee said.
“Let’s us make this year a year in which the nation is moving toward a super top country by leading the ‘Miracle of the East Coast’ and ‘Miracle of the Nakdong River.’”
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