Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok: "Laying the Foundation for a Leap in the Blue Economy"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, stated on the 29th, "The first two years of the 7th local government administration laid the foundation for a leap forward by presenting 'Clean Jeonnam, Blue Economy' as the new millennium vision," adding, "Going forward, the provincial government will actively respond to new changes through bold challenges and innovation to reshape the economic map of the Republic of Korea."

Governor Kim explained the reflections on the past two years, marking the halfway point of the 7th local government administration, along with major achievements.

The first two years of the 7th local government administration proposed Clean Jeonnam Blue Economy as the new millennium vision, identified 52 tasks across six major projects, and received evaluations as a timely strategy aligned with national policy directions in the post-COVID-19 era, while securing national treasury funds smoothly, laying the foundation for a leap forward.

For the first time in history, the era of a 7 trillion KRW national treasury budget and a 9 trillion KRW Jeonnam budget was opened. In particular, a 2.9 trillion KRW scale of SOC was reflected in the national balanced development project, opening the way for SOC expansion with the construction of land-connecting bridges and electrification of the Gyeongjeon Line between Sinan Amhae, Haenam Hwawon, Yeosu Hwatae, and Baekya.

Attracting investment was the top priority of the Jeonnam provincial government, to the extent of attracting 1,000 companies to the Energy Valley. With the attraction of 524 companies creating 15,000 jobs, Jeonnam won the grand prize in the 2019 nationwide local government job awards hosted by the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

Additionally, the establishment of the globally renowned Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) University in Bitgaram Innovation City laid the foundation for becoming a hub of new energy industries alongside KEPCO and Energy Valley.

Core projects in Blue Bio, such as the national immune therapy innovation platform construction project, were attracted to the Hwasun Vaccine Industrial Complex. Furthermore, e-mobility and new energy industries were selected as regulatory free zones, and the Western Maintenance Depot of the Coast Guard was established at Mokpo New Port, revitalizing the ship repair industry in the southwestern region.

The foundation for an era of 60 million tourists was also established.

Last year, a total of 62.55 million tourists visited Jeonnam, an increase of 12.5 million from the previous year, opening a new horizon for tourism in Jeollanam-do.

Other notable achievements include the new millennium talent development project, the attraction of the Smart Farm Innovation Valley and the National Subtropical Crop Demonstration Center, the introduction of public interest allowances for farmers and fishermen, the selection of 71 sites in the national "Fishing Village New Deal 300" contest?the highest nationwide?and achieving a cleanliness rating of grade 2.

Governor Kim Young-rok stated, "Going forward in the 7th local government administration, we will focus on non-face-to-face and digital industries, which have become the new normal, as well as eco-friendly New Deal industries such as climate change and air environment, to create new jobs."

He also emphasized, "We will fully promote the six major projects of Clean Jeonnam Blue Economy to achieve tangible results. We will create an energy innovation hub and swiftly proceed with related procedures such as the enactment of special laws and university establishment approvals to enable KEPCO University to open in March 2022."

He continued, "Along with the additional construction of a large-scale synchrotron radiation accelerator, we will build the 8.2GW large-scale offshore wind power complex, a Jeonnam-type win-win job model, into the representative offshore wind power hub of Korea."

Alongside this, Blue Tour through the new growth tourism belt of the southern coast, Blue Bio aiming to become a biomedical hub, the establishment of a national medical university, preemptive development of future transportation industries, Blue agriculture and fisheries, and Blue City will also be actively pursued.

Governor Kim said, "We will develop Gwangyang Port into a smart complex port as a northeast logistics hub and elevate Jeollanam-do to a global peace center imbued with history, culture, and the spirit of Honam," adding, "We will lead climate change response by hosting COP28 centered in Yeosu and the southern coastal southern central region, enhancing and globalizing the brand value of the southern coast."

He emphasized, "The Yeosu to Iksan Jeolla Line high-speed railway is reflected in the 4th National Railroad Network Construction Plan, and we will focus on completing the land-connecting bridges between Sinan Amhae and Haenam Hwawon, and between Yeosu Hwatae and Baekya by 2027."

Furthermore, he said, "The integrated eastern regional government office building, which will provide the best administrative services, communication, culture, and space to residents in the eastern region, will open in 2022. We will also concentrate the provincial government's capabilities to ensure the enactment of the special law on the Yeosu and Suncheon 10·19 Incident in the 21st National Assembly," adding, "With the spirit of 'Inbaekgicheon (人百己千)'?meaning 'If others make a hundred efforts, I will make a thousand'?we will overcome the difficult provincial administration."

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