Naju Mayor Yoon Byeong-tae and city officials held a rally in front of the National Assembly on October 22, demanding the relocation of the five power companies' headquarters to Bitgaram Innovation City.
As the government prepares for the second phase of public institution relocations, Han Seung-sook, the Prime Minister, recently stated that "public institutions related to functions should be concentrated around innovation cities."
This initiative aims to enhance the achievements of balanced national development based on existing public institutions and the energy industry, positioning Naju as a key hub for the future energy sector.
During the rally, Naju officials argued that the second phase of public institution relocation should not merely divide institutions by region but should strengthen the functions and industrial connectivity established through the first phase of relocations.
They emphasized that as Gwangju and Jeonnam jointly promote Bitgaram Innovation City, the concentration of energy public institutions, including Korea Electric Power Corporation and related companies, as well as the Korea Energy Engineering University (KENTECH), would maximize the benefits of relocation.
The goal is to enhance the self-sufficiency of Bitgaram Innovation City and create new industries and jobs, ensuring that the growth effects extend beyond Naju to the entire Jeonnam-Gwangju integrated special city.
Naju also actively communicated the necessity of attracting the headquarters of the five power companies.
Currently, Naju hosts key public institutions in the energy sector, including Korea Electric Power Corporation, the Korea Power Exchange, KEPCO KDN, and KEPCO KPS, along with KENTECH.
They argued that establishing the headquarters of the five power companies would further strengthen the connectivity across the entire energy industry, from generation to transmission and distribution, power trading, maintenance, and energy ICT, creating synergy for inter-agency cooperation and technological innovation.
Yoon Byeong-tae stated, "If the first phase of public institution relocation marked the birth of Bitgaram Innovation City, the second phase should serve as a new starting point to complete the city and spread its achievements throughout the region."
He added, "With a solid foundation in power trading, maintenance, ICT, and energy talent development centered around Korea Electric Power Corporation, Naju is optimally positioned to enhance the functional connectivity of Korea's energy industry if the headquarters of the five power companies relocate here."
Naju plans to continue advocating for the necessity of the second phase of public institution relocation and the attraction of the five power companies' headquarters to the government and the National Assembly, collaborating with relevant agencies, including the Jeonnam-Gwangju integrated special city.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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