The Saemangeum Residents' Conference (co-represented by Jo Jun-ho, Jo Gyu-chun, Oh Chang-hwan, Go Young-jo, Kim Jong-ju) and the Minjoo Party's Jeonbuk Innovation Forum (co-permanent representatives Kim Yong-man, Kang Chung-sang) held a joint policy agreement ceremony on the 30th at the Jeonbuk Provincial Council seminar room, pledging their commitment to promoting a "carbon-neutral Saemangeum" based on seawater circulation.

About 30 executives from both organizations attended the agreement ceremony, promising substantial cooperation on the "renewal of Saemangeum" centered around five major policy tasks for sustainable development of Saemangeum.

The Saemangeum Residents' Conference has been proposing the expansion of seawater circulation through tidal power plants and development centered on renewable energy such as solar power for the past seven years, aiming to improve water quality, restore tidal flats, rebuild the fisheries industry, and activate eco-tourism.

Co-representative Jo Jun-ho stated in his opening remarks, "We have been contemplating realistic alternatives to maximize the benefits of the Saemangeum project in the coexistence of nature conservation and development," expressing his pleasure in collaborating with the Minjoo Party's Jeonbuk Innovation Forum, which supports a sustainable transition away from landfill-centered development towards tidal power and other sustainable alternatives.

Kim Yong-man, co-permanent representative of the Minjoo Party's Jeonbuk Innovation Forum, emphasized, "The way to revive polluted water is through seawater circulation, and the solution to infuse industrial vitality is energy production," stating, "We will create a Saemangeum where clean and affordable electricity is supplied using nature, allowing coexistence of fishermen and businesses."

Both sides signed the agreement, aiming to jointly respond to the adoption of the campaign promises of Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, and promising to continue collaborating even after the new government is inaugurated.

At the end of the event, participants engaged in a performance where they attached the five major policy tasks of the "renewal of Saemangeum" to a conceptual drawing, pledging to achieve Jeonbuk's innovation and the proactive transition of Saemangeum through public-private cooperation.

Co-representative Oh Chang-hwan stated, "Saemangeum is a key hub for responding to the climate crisis and achieving carbon neutrality, with the potential for attracting large-scale renewable energy-based industries and implementing a green basic income model."

The five major policy tasks presented in this agreement for the "renewal of Saemangeum" include ▲ achieving continuous seawater circulation through tidal power in Saemangeum ▲ designating Saemangeum as a specialized distributed energy zone and establishing RE100 industrial zones ▲ promoting a solar power pilot project for agricultural use in Saemangeum ▲ installing wastewater treatment facilities and establishing a chemical accident response system within the Saemangeum secondary battery industrial zone ▲ designating special management areas in the external waters of Saemangeum and establishing a governance system (management committee).