Mokpo Mayor Kim Jong-sik Fully Commits to Securing New Growth Engines by Fostering Three Strategic Industries

Continued Promotion of Growth Strategies for Tourism, Seafood Food Products, and Renewable Energy Industries

Mokpo Mayor Kim Jong-sik expressed a strong commitment to fostering three major strategic industries at the Mokpo City Council. (Photo by Mokpo City)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jeong Hyeong-seok] Mokpo City announced on the 10th that Mayor Kim Jong-sik expressed a strong will to foster three strategic industries?tourism, seafood food products, and renewable energy industries?and presented the 2020 municipal administration direction through a policy speech at the 353rd Mokpo City Council extraordinary session.

Mayor Kim said, “Last year was a year of full sprint to commercialize Mokpo’s charm as tourism products and to make its strengths into strategic industries, creating hope in the three strategic industries that will become the mainstay of Mokpo’s economy.”

He then cited last year’s achievements including ▲commercialization of Mokpo’s flavors as tourism products ▲Mokpo Autumn Festival ▲exemption from preliminary feasibility study and securing national funds for the seafood food product export complex project ▲designation of the national energy industry convergence complex ▲attraction of public institutions ▲signing of a private agreement for the construction of Jangjado Resort ▲and 70% sales of Daeyang Industrial Complex.

Mayor Kim stated, “This year, to revitalize the local economy, we will proceed unwaveringly, vigorously promoting policies that yielded results last year and refining and supplementing policies that can achieve greater outcomes,” and presented six major blueprints: ▲a 10-million tourist city ▲future new growth strategic industrialization of offshore wind power and seafood food product industries ▲expansion of future growth infrastructure ▲completion of a slow city ▲enhancement of cultural and artistic city features ▲and a welfare city with jobs.

To become a 10-million tourist city visited by people worldwide, the city will make every effort to be designated as a tourism hub city through government public contests, while focusing on projects such as Gohado Meeting Ecological Park, coastal decks, Daebandong Skywalk photo zone, 30-ri Beach Flavor Road (from Peace Square to Korea Maritime and Ocean University), Samhakdo Millennium Forest creation, and additional large-scale accommodation facilities attraction.

For fostering the renewable energy industry represented by offshore wind power, administrative efforts will be concentrated on including the construction of a support pier and hinterland complex for Mokpo New Port offshore wind power in the 4th Basic Port Plan.

The seafood food product export complex project, a representative project for high value-added seafood food product industry, has secured government budget this year and will be promoted as planned with a goal of completion in 2022.

To expand future growth infrastructure, efforts will be made to attract the National Island Development Research Promotion Institute and establish the Mokpo National University Medical School, while steadily advancing projects such as the construction of the Western Maintenance Base of the Korea Coast Guard and the establishment of a comprehensive stadium.

The slow city will be completed through urban regeneration and island development. To this end, the city will establish a comprehensive master plan for the modern historical and cultural space, renew the Modern History Hall 2, install design signboards in the 1897 Port Opening Culture Street Youth Road section, and implement underground wiring.

Island development projects will be promoted for residents and tourists through administrative support for the construction of Jangjado Resort and fishing village New Deal projects in Oedaldo, Dallido, and Yuldo.

The cultural and artistic city features will be enhanced through upgrades in both software and hardware. To this end, new content will be added to the Mokpo Autumn Festival, a so-called Romantic Pocha (outdoor food stall) will be created at the former Coast Guard pier in Samhakdo, and Peace Square will be remodeled.

To revitalize the livelihood economy such as jobs and welfare, sales administration for Daeyang Industrial Complex by all officials will continue, while focusing on efficiency and effectiveness through tailored services such as operation of the Mokpo Youth and Job Integration Center, issuance of 20 billion KRW worth of Mokpo Love Gift Certificates, integrated protection projects for elderly living alone by region, and operation of the Family Support Service Center.

Mayor Kim emphasized, “This year, Mokpo faces both opportunities and crises. We will boldly move forward while facing the internal and external trends and atmosphere as they are,” adding, “We will create hope by looking further ahead, exchanging more widely, and communicating more deeply.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.