In remarks on May 15, 2009, Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-Soo highlighted the need to ease regulations in the metropolitan area, saying “Gyeonggi Province is not a colony of the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs.”

During a conference with district mayors that was held at the Icheon Ceramic Center, Governor Kim mentioned the fact that businesses like Hynix Semiconductor were suffering difficulties in plant expansion due to the restrictions on development, saying, “Gyeonggi Province is not a colony of the Ministry of Land, Transport, and Maritime Affairs. We are not a cash cow for the Korea Land Corporation and the Korea National Housing Corporation.”

Governor Kim also said, “Japan even accommodates chemical plants in downtown areas. New cities should provide workplaces for citizens, but we are now trying to remove plants. To build a new city that lasts one hundred years, it should be equipped with workplaces as well as beautiful green areas.”

Governor Kim also expressed his confidence in the success of GTX, which has been a focus of Gyeonggi Province .

He said, “The construction of the GTX requires a huge investment, but after completion, it will bring much greater financial return. Korea will emerge as the world’s leading railroad powerhouse, ahead of New York, Tokyo, and Paris.”