At the 3rd Anniversary Press Conference of Mokpo Mayor Kim Jong-sik's Inauguration... 'Focusing on Economic Recovery Capabilities'

Cited Achievements Include Establishing a Foundation for 'Strategic Industry' Development and Increasing Urban Brand Value

At the 3rd anniversary press conference of the 7th local government, Mokpo Mayor Kim Jong-sik explains future regional development issues. Photo by Mokpo City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jeong Seunghyun] On the occasion of the 3rd anniversary of the 7th local government inauguration, Mokpo Mayor Kim Jong-sik held a press conference and expressed a strong determination to "focus policy capabilities on economic recovery."

On the 29th, at the press conference held at Mokpo City Hall, Mayor Kim reviewed the achievements of the past three years and revealed his plans for the coming year.

Mayor Kim summarized the 7th local government term by saying, "We are overcoming COVID-19 and moving vigorously toward new changes and development."

The achievements highlighted by Mayor Kim include ▲ establishing a groundbreaking foundation for development through three strategic industries ▲ fostering the best cultural and artistic city in South Korea ▲ significantly expanding living SOC ▲ rapidly increasing the city's brand value.

Looking at the three strategic industries?renewable energy industry, fisheries food industry, and tourism industry?all are being promoted in conjunction with government policies worth over 100 billion KRW.

The renewable energy sector is centered on eco-friendly ship industry and offshore wind power industry. The eco-friendly ship industry is pushing forward the creation of Korea’s first eco-friendly ship cluster in Namhang.

The offshore wind power industry is attracting companies that produce and assemble equipment and parts necessary for the 8.2GW offshore wind power complex across the southwestern coast to the hinterland of Mokpo New Port, and is constructing the Offshore Wind Power Industry Support Center (31.5 billion KRW) in Daeyang Industrial Complex.

The fisheries food industry is advancing the fisheries food export complex project (108.9 billion KRW) in Daeyang Industrial Complex, which integrates the international seafood exchange, R&D facilities, cold storage logistics warehouses, and processing plants. At the same time, it is conducting the "Establishment and Promotion of Mokpo Fish Cake Globalization" project (10 billion KRW) and the "Export Strategy-Type Gim Processing Industry Promotion" project (10 billion KRW).

The tourism industry has established Mokpo’s status as a tourist city by being selected as one of South Korea’s four major tourist cities (100 billion KRW). Various projects are underway, including building a smart tourism information platform service, the 30-ri Beach Flavor Road project, and the "Sea Fantasy Show," featuring sea stage performances and fireworks shows against the backdrop of the Dancing Sea Fountain.

Alongside this, to build tourism accommodation facilities, the high-end resort project "Art Land" (private investment of 150 billion KRW) is underway on Jangjado Island, and private investment is being sought to build a 5-star hotel with a convention facility, an essential infrastructure for Mokpo tourism, on Samhakdo Island. The Ipamsan area was selected for a public contest project to be developed as the "Gatbawi Regional Garden" (8 billion KRW).

In the cultural and arts sector, the representative projects are the preliminary cultural city designation and the Mokpo Literature Expo. Last year, Mokpo was selected as a preliminary cultural city, the first stage of the legal cultural city designation, which will receive 20 billion KRW over five years starting in 2022.

The literature-themed expo, the first of its kind nationwide, is scheduled to be held from October 7 to 10, utilizing Mokpo’s characteristics closely linked to the giants of Korean literary history.

Regarding the expansion of living SOC, the bicycle terminal construction and the opening of the little baseball field were completed this year, and projects such as the pet playground, Mokpo Eoullim Library equipped with a toy library, and the underwater pipeline installation for water supply in island areas are currently underway.

Regarding the rapid rise in brand value, Mayor Kim evaluated, "The city’s brand value is growing beyond being just the representative port city of the southwestern region to becoming a city of taste, one of South Korea’s four major tourism hubs, an international slow city, a modern historical and cultural city, and a preliminary cultural city."

He added, "Tourism, culture and arts, and islands are aligned with national policies, and large-scale projects such as eco-friendly ship industry, offshore wind power industry, and fisheries food export complex are opening new future values."

Additionally, he cited examples of brand value increase such as ▲ attracting 12 public institutions including the Island Promotion Agency and Smile Center ▲ recording 5.51 million tourists in 2020 ▲ selling the Yudal Stadium site for about 93.6 billion KRW ▲ winning the top prize in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s city awards ▲ ranking first nationwide as the best city for business by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Mayor Kim said, "I have been devoted to finding solutions and preparing blueprints for tasks that must not be missed," mentioning ▲ integration with Sinan ▲ seeking ways to normalize city bus operations ▲ major renovation project of Mokpo Station ▲ promoting the bid to host the 2028 World Island Expo.

He stated, "I will renew my sense of mission and responsibility so that the 7th local government term can remain a turning point in Mokpo’s history and move forward together with citizens," presenting the blueprint for the next year of the 7th local government term as ▲ accelerating the development of three strategic industries ▲ successful Mokpo Literature Expo and legal cultural city designation ▲ sustainable city.

Regarding the renewable energy industry, he emphasized, "Renewable energy industries such as eco-friendly ships and offshore wind power are fields that will revolutionize not only Mokpo but also South Korea’s industrial structure, requiring a long-term perspective," and pledged to accelerate progress through active cooperation with the government and Jeollanam-do.

He explained that the fisheries food export complex project, the main project for fostering the fisheries food industry, will begin construction in the first half of next year and aims for completion in the second half of 2023.

Regarding the tourism industry, he expressed comprehensive promotion of short- and mid-to-long-term projects including ▲ holding the Sea Fantasy Show at Peace Square ▲ the 30-ri Beach Flavor Road project ▲ opening the second phase of the Gohado offshore deck in July and completing the inclined elevator ▲ opening the Yudalsan Wooden Culture Experience Center in July ▲ completing the Oedaldo Sea Nature Garden by the end of the year ▲ launching the smart tourism information platform service in August ▲ the Gatbawi Regional Garden project.

In the cultural and arts sector, he expressed his determination to gather citizens’ wisdom and capabilities for the successful hosting of the Literature Expo and legal cultural city designation.

For a sustainable city, he proposed ▲ 100% leasing of Daeyang Industrial Complex by the end of the year and re-designation as a special support area for small and medium enterprises ▲ using the proceeds from the sale of Yudal Stadium for the construction of Mokpo Comprehensive Stadium and expanding sports infrastructure in preparation for the National Sports Festival ▲ completing the undergrounding of power lines in the old downtown within the year, promoting safe pedestrian environment projects, street construction for the 1897 Port Culture Street, and improving old signboards ▲ completing Mokpo Eoullim Library by May next year ▲ completing the underwater pipeline installation for water supply in island areas by the first half of next year.

Finally, Mayor Kim emphasized, "Mokpo has drawn the big picture of a great Mokpo era. We have the capability to realize it and full confidence to face new challenges," and stressed, "Together with the citizens who have kept Mokpo a COVID-19 clean area, we can overcome any difficulties easily."

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