Jung Eui-kyung, the new second vice minister of land, infrastructure and transport, said he would use transport networks to support balanced regional development, including the government's regional development initiative, covering five growth hubs and three special zones.
Jung laid out balanced development, industrial innovation and public safety as his core policy directions at his inauguration ceremony at the Government Complex Sejong on the 2nd. "With the government entering its second year, it is time to move beyond plans and deliver results that the public can feel in their daily lives," he said.
He also said he would carry on the reforms to transport services, the transport industry innovation drive and the public safety policies pursued by Hong Ji-sun, the current minister of land, infrastructure and transport, during her own tenure as second vice minister. "I will take over the policy direction set out then and complete it as results the public can feel," Jung said.
On balanced development, the ministry will expand transport networks linking major regional hubs with industries and jobs, and broaden local transport services. "I will make sure that the balanced development of the country, represented by the five growth hubs and three special zones, becomes a reality through transport networks," Jung said.
Jung said he would connect new technologies and services — including autonomous driving, urban air mobility (UAM) and demand-responsive transport — to everyday life, while laying the groundwork for coexistence with the existing transport industry. The ministry will also promote research, development and field testing of advanced transport technologies to help domestic companies compete in overseas markets. "I will connect new technologies and services to the daily lives of the public and create an environment in which they can coexist with the existing transport industry," he said.
Across rail, road and aviation, the ministry will build a preventive safety system that identifies and fixes risk factors in advance. "No value comes before the lives of the people," Jung said. "Rather than responding after an accident occurs, I will find risk factors in advance and address them." He added, "No matter how good a plan is, it cannot become reality unless transport that connects people and jobs supports it. As second vice minister, I will serve as a bridge linking land and transport."
