Yoon pledges 2.6 trillion won toward a Korean Autobahn in South Jeolla

President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks at the 20th public livelihood debate held at the South Jeolla provincial government building in Muan County, South Jeolla, on Thursday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

President Yoon Suk Yeol pledged to invest some 2.6 trillion won ($1.97 billion) to build a 47-kilometer highway comparable to Germany's Autobahn to connect Yeongam and Gwangju during a town hall meeting in South Jeolla on Thursday.

Yoon spoke in a South Jeolla provincial government building for a public livelihood debate focusing on improving regional living conditions, creating a regional economic zone and speeding up building transportation infrastructure.

He promised to immediately begin research to prepare a detailed plans this year for the construction of a Korean-style "superhighway" comparable to the Germany's Autobahn.

He said the highway could be used as a test bed for autonomous driving vehicles, in line with his campaign pledges, and could help to improve both transportation and tourism to the region.

Yoon further urged to speed up the constructions of the Gwangju-Gangjin expressway, which is currently underway, and the Gangjin-Wan expressway, which is undergoing a preliminary feasibility study.

Yoon also said that 1 trillion won will be earmarked to improve the connectivity of a 180-kilometer stretch between North Jeolla's Iksan and South Jeolla's Yeosu through a high speed rail network.

He further promised to focus on innovating the region's industrial infrastructure and supporting future industries.

He referred to the construction of an automated port at Gwangyang Port, saying that logistics will be streamlined through a 700 billion won automation test bed construction project. Another project is to build a civilian rocket launchpad in Goheung County.

"Honam is now opening a new path as a base for future industries," Yoon said. "We must find a suitable development plan and implement it with a speed."

This marks the first time that a public livelihood debate, now in its 20th rendition, was held in the Honam region, a traditionally liberal stronghold home to Gwangju and the Jeolla region.

Yoon further said he will strengthen support for the agriculture, livestock and fisheries industries and lay the foundation for creating several AI-based high-tech agricultural and livestock industry convergence districts in the South Jeolla counties of Muan and Hampyeong. He also highlighted that 120 billion won will be spent for creating a Mokpo seafood export complex to support research, development and exports, and several seafood processing and distribution facilities in Naju and other regions.

He also stressed planning to grow Korea's dried seaweed industry, which exports the leading domestic marine product. He envisions exports of 10 trillion won in seafood if demand grows in Western countries.

Yoon also called out illegal Chinese fishing activities in western seas.

"We will respond resolutely to China's illegal fishing practices," Yoon said, calling to establish a system to regularly crack down on such activities in the west coast.

Yoon further announced a plan to invest 1.3 trillion won in South Jeolla through a tourism development project in the southern region. This includes a plan to establish an animation cluster in Suncheon, famous for the Suncheonman International Garden Expo and develop a so-called "K-Disney" infrastructure.

Rival Democratic Party (DP) lawmakers have criticized Yoon's consecutive town hall meetings, which bring together government officials and civilians in discussions about key issues during visits to provinces around the country, as being campaigning activities ahead of the April 10 general election.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]