Hong Ji-sun, the nominee for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated, "We will mobilize all public and private capabilities to swiftly push for housing supply in locations desired by the public until the market feels it is sufficient."

Nominee Hong made the remarks during her opening statement at her confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly today (16th), saying, "We will achieve housing stability that the public can actually feel."

She stated, "Utilizing my experience working in local government, I will resolve on-site bottlenecks such as delayed approvals and permits to enhance policy execution," adding, "We will strengthen the housing ladder for future generations such as young adults and newlywed couples, while providing robust protection for vulnerable housing groups including the elderly and victims of jeonse fraud."

Emphasizing balanced regional development as a "matter of national survival," she said, "We will support mega-projects to foster advanced industrial hubs in regions, and continue to develop the administrative capital and Saemangeum as core regional hubs." She added, "For the second relocation of public institutions, we will sufficiently communicate with institutions and local governments, organically link regional industries, and create a priming water for growth."

Regarding the transportation sector, she mentioned expanding metropolitan transport networks across each of the five-megaregion and three-special-autonomous-province zones, strengthening guarantees for mobility rights of the transportation-vulnerable and residents in underserved areas, and expanding benefits for the "Modu Card" (universal transport card). Drawing on her experience as the Second Vice Minister overseeing transportation at the Ministry, she stated that she would boldly reform unnecessary regulations to foster new growth engines such as autonomous driving.

In addition, she emphasized, "Rather than reacting after accidents occur at construction and transportation sites, we will establish a prevention-centered safety management system that identifies risk factors in advance," and added, "We will also closely look after on-site workers in delivery, transport, and construction to ensure they receive fair treatment in a safe environment."

Nominee Hong noted, "Looking back, my public service career has been a process of pondering just as much on how policies work well on the ground as on creating them," and added, "Because the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is closest to the lives of the people, I feel the weight of this experience even more deeply after being nominated as minister."

(Photo: Yonhap News)