Lee Jae-myung, a candidate for the Democratic Party of Korea's presidential primary, announced a pledge to connect the metropolitan area as "a one-hour economic zone." He emphasized that the first-generation new towns, such as Bundang, Ilsan, and Sanbon, would improve residential quality by renovating aging infrastructure.
The candidate noted on Facebook on the 25th that "The gateway to Korea, Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi, harmonizes tradition and modernity, history and cutting-edge, with nature" and "I will elevate it as a center of international economy and culture."
The candidate presented his metropolitan area pledge, which includes ▲ connecting the Yeouido financial hub and Yongsan international business district ▲ providing investment incentives for Gyeonggi's semiconductor mega-cluster ▲ establishing a peace economic zone in northern Gyeonggi ▲ supporting Incheon as a global logistics hub ▲ installing a maritime court in Incheon ▲ renovating aging infrastructure in first-generation new towns ▲ and advancing GTX and GTX Plus.
The candidate remarked, "I will build a dense transportation network by organically linking major metropolitan transport plans and national projects" and added, "When Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi maximize their respective advantages and merge through the synergy of the metropolitan area, Korea can run toward the future."
He emphasized, "By uniting Seoul's global economic power, Gyeonggi's high-tech industrial strength, and Incheon's international logistics competitiveness, we will lead the world and leap to become an "international economic and cultural capital metropolitan area" that the world wants to follow." He further stated, "I will make Seoul a global economic capital on par with New York."
The candidate also announced his agricultural policy proposals on the day. Specifically, these include ▲ realizing agricultural disaster compensation ▲ expanding smart agriculture with robots and AI ▲ promoting resident participation in land expansion ▲ introducing a retirement pension system for farmers ▲ increasing the direct payment share in agricultural budgets ▲ gradually expanding the rural resident allowance system ▲ amending the Grain Management Act ▲ and pushing for a complete labeling system for genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
The candidate stated, "Agriculture is the frontline of national security in protecting food sovereignty in the era of climate crisis" and "I will transform agriculture into a sustainable future industry that responds to the climate crisis and usher in an era where K-agriculture leads the world, beyond K-food."