Lee Jae-myung: "I fully empathize with Suwon's hydrogen products inspection support center... will actively cooperate in its attraction"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hoon] Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung promised to actively cooperate with Suwon City to attract the hydrogen products inspection support center, which is currently undergoing government recruitment, to Taping area in Gwonseon-gu, Suwon City.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung met with Suwon City Mayor Yeom 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 public recruitment project for the construction site of the hydrogen products inspection support center targeting local governments, with the final announcement scheduled for the 17th.

Gyeonggi Province, which is promoting the Green New Deal, has expressed its position to attract the hydrogen products inspection support center in cooperation with Suwon City to foster future new industries and create employment.

Governor Lee stated, "In the current situation where we need a major transition in energy and must take the lead in responding to the climate crisis, I fully empathize with (Suwon City's) plan to establish a hydrogen-specialized industrial complex in Suwon, and as a prerequisite, to attract the hydrogen products inspection center," and added, "From the province's perspective, we need to quickly and boldly restructure industries. While the provincial level is important, leading-edge planning and efforts at the city and county levels are also crucial."

Governor Lee continued, "Suwon has high development potential, excellent accessibility to Seoul, and an outstanding industrial foundation, so it will be able to sufficiently attract future advanced projects such as hydrogen-specialized industrial complexes," and said, "We will do our best to attract the center, but regardless of the success or failure of this project, Gyeonggi Province will pay attention and actively cooperate in the creation of a hydrogen-specialized industrial complex."

Governor Lee also requested Suwon City's understanding regarding the 3rd phase of public institution relocation being promoted by the province.

Governor Lee stated, "Balanced development is a very important policy objective, and fairness so that no region and no person feels wronged is the issue of this era," and added, "Naturally it may be disappointing, and in some ways unfair, and it will be very difficult from the employees' perspective, but on the other hand, I hope you understand that it is truly a major desired project for the relevant region."

Governor Lee specifically cited the example of Dongducheon City, where the relocation of the Job Foundation is planned, and said, "From Suwon's perspective, while Suwon has many companies and affiliated organizations, in the case of Dongducheon, which doesn't even have a single affiliated public institution, the situation is so difficult that there isn't even a building available for lease, so we decided to construct one," and added, "Since the expectations of provincial residents are very high, I hope Suwon citizens will understand and accept this."

While citing the example of when he was mayor of Seongnam City, where he developed the government public institution relocation site into the 2nd Pangyo Techno Valley, Governor Lee said, "Rather than feeling like it's being taken away from Suwon, I want it to feel like Suwon received sufficient consideration from Gyeonggi Province and appropriate compensation. In addition to the hydrogen-specialized industrial complex, if we can discover good projects, we will actively support and cooperate."

Suwon City Mayor Yeom Tae-young said, "As hydrogen economy is becoming a very important axis in the national economy as the core of the Green New Deal, the government has enacted the hydrogen law (Act on the Promotion of the Hydrogen Economy and Safety Management of Hydrogen) for the first time in the world," and added, "As the significance of the hydrogen industry is great ahead of the carbon neutrality era, I hope you will provide support so that Suwon can be finally selected for the hydrogen products inspection support center."

Meanwhile, the hydrogen products inspection support center, which will begin operations starting in 2023, is a top-tier core institution in legal inspection of hydrogen products and the hydrogen industry safety field. With a scale of 16,500㎡ including a hydrogen products 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 from national treasury, local government funds, and gas company support.