Lee Jae-myung "Suwon's Hydrogen Product Testing Support Center... Will actively cooperate in attracting it"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, promised active cooperation with Suwon City to attract the Hydrogen Product Testing Support Center to Tapdong area in Gwonseon-gu, Suwon City, for which the government is currently accepting proposals.

Governor Lee Jae-myung met with Suwon City Mayor Yum Tae-young at Suwon City Hall on the 4th and held a 'Gyeonggi Province-Suwon City Hydrogen Energy Industry Cooperation Meeting.'

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Gas Safety Corporation are conducting a proposal project for the construction site of a hydrogen product testing support center targeting local governments, with a final announcement scheduled for the 17th.

Gyeonggi Province, which is promoting the Green New Deal, intends to attract the Hydrogen Product Testing Support Center in cooperation with Suwon City to foster future new industries and create jobs.

Governor Lee said, "In the current situation where a major energy transition is necessary and we must respond proactively to the climate crisis, I fully support Suwon's plan to establish a hydrogen-specialized industrial complex and, as a prerequisite, to attract a hydrogen product testing center," adding "The province must pursue industrial restructuring swiftly and boldly, and while the provincial level is important, pioneering planning and efforts at the city and county level are also important."

He continued, "Suwon has high development pressure, excellent proximity to Seoul, and an excellent industrial base, so it will certainly be able to attract future advanced businesses like hydrogen-specialized complexes in the future," and "We will do our best to attract the center, but regardless of the success or failure of this project, Gyeonggi Province will also take interest and actively cooperate in creating hydrogen-specialized industrial complexes," he added.

Governor Lee also requested Suwon City's understanding regarding the third round of public institution relocations being pursued by the province.

He said, "Balanced development is a very important policy goal, and fairness so that no region or person feels wronged is the topic of this era," and "Naturally, it must be frustrating and somewhat unjust, and it will be very difficult for employees, but on the other hand, I hope you will understand that this is a truly great wish project for the area concerned."

Governor Lee particularly cited the example of Dongducheon City, where the relocation of a job foundation is planned, saying "From Suwon's perspective, among the many companies and affiliated institutions, in the case of Dongducheon, which does not even have a single subsidiary public institution, it is so poor that there is no building available for lease, so we decided to build a building," and "Since the expectations of provincial citizens are very high, I hope that Suwon citizens will understand and accept this," he repeatedly requested understanding.

In doing so, citing the example of developing a government public institution relocation site as the Second Pangyo Techno Valley during his tenure as Seongnam City Mayor, he said "Rather than feeling like Suwon is being deprived, if we discover good projects in addition to the hydrogen-specialized industrial complex so that people feel they have received sufficient consideration from Gyeonggi Province and corresponding compensation, we will actively support and cooperate."

Suwon City Mayor Yum Tae-young said, "Since hydrogen economy has become a very important axis in the national economy as a key element of the Green New Deal, even the government created the Hydrogen Act (Act on the Promotion of Hydrogen Economy and Safety Management of Hydrogen) for the first time in the world," and "As the significance of the hydrogen industry is great ahead of the carbon neutral era, I hope you will support so that Suwon can be finally selected for the Hydrogen Product Testing Support Center."

Meanwhile, the Hydrogen Product Testing Support Center, which will operate from 2023 onward, is the highest core institution in the field of legal testing of hydrogen products and hydrogen industry safety. With a scale of 16,500㎡ including a hydrogen product testing building (4,200㎡) and main building and customer support building (12,300㎡), it will establish a one-stop integrated safety system and hydrogen safety technology institute for safety management of hydrogen products and facilities such as fuel cells, water electrolysis equipment, and hydrogen extractors.

The project cost is a total of 48.3 billion won, including national treasury, local tax, and gas company support.