Kim San, Muan County Governor, "I Will Achieve Regional Development Together with the Residents"

Published 16 Jul.2021 17:10(KST)

3rd Anniversary Interview of the 7th Civilian Administration... Reflections and Future Plans Revealed

Kim San, the governor of Muan County, is answering a reporter's question. / Photo by Asia Economy

[Muan＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Oh Hwan-joo] “I will make sure that people feel happy to be born and live in Muan,” said Kim San, the governor of Muan County, in an interview with Asia Economy on the 16th. We met with Governor Kim, who is marking the third anniversary of his seventh term, to hear his reflections and future plans.

◆ Please introduce the Urban Regeneration New Deal project aimed at revitalizing the stagnated old downtown area of Muan-eup.

Muan County is a mixed urban-rural city where urban and rural areas coexist. The most important goal of the seventh term is to complete a harmonious Muan County through balanced regional development and customized development considering regional characteristics.

Therefore, our county has been promoting the Muan-eup Urban Regeneration New Deal project to inject vitality and liveliness into the stagnated old downtown area of Muan-eup.

The Urban Regeneration New Deal project involves building various social infrastructure facilities in the old downtown area of Muan-eup to expand infrastructure and strengthen residents’ capabilities, thereby revitalizing the underdeveloped area.

On the site of the former traditional market, a complex cultural center, a public health center, and LH Happy Housing are scheduled to be constructed by 2023. Additionally, the construction of the Namdo Food Culture Street and Octopus Specialty Street, aimed at attracting tourists who come for octopus, is targeted for completion in November this year.

In addition to infrastructure expansion, we will also promote resident capacity-building activities such as the Urban Regeneration University to restore the local community, aiming for practical regional development.

◆ You held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Aviation Specialized Industrial Complex (MRO) linked to Muan International Airport. What is the current progress and expected effects?

The Aviation Specialized Industrial Complex project is a large-scale industrial complex centered on aircraft maintenance (MRO) near Muan International Airport, where various aviation-related businesses such as aircraft parts and in-flight meal companies will be located.

Our county is investing a total of 44.8 billion KRW in a 350,000㎡ site near Muan International Airport, aiming for completion next year.

Currently, we have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with FL Technics, an aircraft maintenance specialist company, and have established industry-academia-government cooperation agreements with five universities to secure aircraft maintenance personnel. We are also promoting the establishment of a West Sea Coast Guard aviation base within the industrial complex.

Furthermore, to prepare for domestic and international aircraft maintenance demand in Northeast Asia, we are conducting a feasibility study to expand the aviation specialized complex into a 1.4 million㎡ national aviation industrial complex.

Until now, there has been a shortage of aircraft maintenance companies in Korea, limiting practical training opportunities for students majoring in aircraft maintenance. However, once the large-scale aviation industrial complex requiring substantial maintenance personnel is completed, local youth will have stable opportunities to learn aircraft maintenance technology and find employment in companies.

Aircraft typically require maintenance demand three to four times their value, and aviation-related industries, including aircraft maintenance, are expected to continue growing.

Therefore, the aviation industry is expected to play a key role as Muan’s future economic driver for the next 100 years, revitalizing the local economy and creating youth jobs.

◆ Rural areas are currently facing difficulties due to climate change and population decline. What policies are in place to overcome these crises and establish a stable income base?

Muan is a region with a high proportion of primary industries, mainly producing onions, garlic, octopus, sweet potatoes, and rice. In particular, octopus and onions are nationally famous representative specialties of Muan.

Our county has been striving to respond to the changing agricultural environment caused by climate change, population decline, and the development of 4th industrial technologies, and to build a sustainable agricultural income base for the future.

As a representative project to lead future agriculture, we are establishing an advanced agricultural complex in the Hyeongyeong-myeon area to demonstrate various new technologies and smart agriculture.

This complex will include smart farm training and education facilities, an agricultural machinery rental center, a natural ecological agricultural experience site for urban residents’ rest and healing, and a local agricultural specialty product sales center.

Additionally, we are promoting the Rural New Vitality Plus Project to create high added value through the sixth industrialization, which combines secondary processed food industries and tertiary services, moving away from a primary industry-centered structure.

This project involves cultivating specialized personnel to lead convergence industrialization, industrializing sweet potato processing (a strategic item), supporting distribution, and marketing by establishing an integrated platform.

To improve farmers’ and fishermen’s quality of life through management stability, this year we provided a public interest allowance of 600,000 KRW per farm household, supported agricultural policy insurance enrollment, educational scholarships for farmers’ children, agricultural machinery rentals, and various other support projects.

Moreover, we have conducted a large-scale onion purchase campaign involving related organizations and urban local governments, carried out online promotions through open markets such as 11st, and signed a business agreement with the comprehensive food company SPC Group to promote onion consumption, launching Muan onion bread at Paris Baguette stores nationwide, actively expanding agricultural product sales channels.

(Photo on the right) Kim San, the governor of Muan County, is giving an interview. / Photo by Asia Economy

◆ Muan County has the largest population among county-level areas in Jeonnam but was included in the population extinction risk areas in April last year. What are the countermeasures?

Muan recorded its highest population of 144,000 in 1969, which decreased to 62,000 in 2004. However, with the relocation of the Jeonnam Provincial Office and development of the Oryong district, the population has steadily increased to about 89,000 currently.

Our county has the largest population among the 17 county-level local governments in Jeonnam but was included in the population extinction risk area in April last year.

Population decline due to low birth rates and aging is a challenge that we all must consider and solve for future generations. Our county aims to implement differentiated population policies that fundamentally address issues such as birth rates and jobs.

We are conducting various projects to create a favorable environment for childbirth and child-rearing, such as the Happy Mommy childbirth preparation class and the construction of a family center, and have expanded support for newcomers by revising related ordinances.

To create quality jobs, we are promoting various policies including the Aviation Specialized Industrial Complex project, digital job support in preparation for the 4th Industrial Revolution era, and startup consulting.

Furthermore, recognizing the limitations of existing rural-type population policies, we are also conducting a research project to establish a comprehensive mid- to long-term population policy plan.

Through this study, we will systematically analyze and diagnose existing population policies, education, and residential conditions to establish regionally customized population policies suited to local characteristics.

In the second half of the year, based on the study results, we plan to revise ordinances and reflect new projects in next year’s main budget, thereby addressing more fundamental issues in population policy and laying the groundwork for Muan’s city status elevation.

◆ As a mixed urban-rural city, transportation policy is crucial for Muan County. What efforts are being made to improve transportation conditions?

Since the seventh term, our county has made great efforts to implement transportation policies that satisfy both urban residents and rural inhabitants.

First, to improve transportation convenience for residents of Namak New Town and nearby rural areas, we introduced a public circular bus route in October last year. This route operates 24 times daily between Samhyang, Namak, Oryong, and Illo areas. While about 10 people used it daily in the first month, the average daily ridership has now increased to about 100.

To meet new public transportation demand due to population growth in Namak New Town and to alleviate inconvenience for residents, we are currently conducting a ‘Muan County Rural Bus Route and Operation System Reform Study’ and plan a comprehensive route system overhaul based on it.

Additionally, city bus users heading toward Mokpo can now transfer for free on routes 1, 9, 20, 60, and 800 passing through Namak New Town.

Moreover, to reduce residents’ fare burdens, we implemented a single fare system for rural buses earlier this year, setting fares at 1,000 KRW for adults and 500 KRW for elementary to high school students. Last year, the criteria for selecting Happy Taxi target villages were relaxed from 800m to 600m distance from village halls or ship docks to rural bus stops, and from the second half of this year, Happy Taxi fares have been reduced from 1,000 KRW to 100 KRW.

Furthermore, recognizing that the taxi fare system in the newly formed Oryong district does not reflect the changed environment, Muan County unified taxi fares and rates between Namak district and Oryong district within Namak New Town. We also developed and are distributing free of charge the ‘Muan Call’ taxi app, equipped with safe return home and safe number functions, to improve residents’ inconvenience.

To alleviate parking difficulties in Namak New Town, we have created 27 temporary public parking lots with a total of 786 large and 12 passenger car spaces and plan to add 13 more temporary public parking lots with 250 spaces for residents.

We will also build a large bus public parking lot in the octopus alley of Muan-eup and implement pedestrian environment improvement projects to reduce traffic accidents, improving vehicle flow and creating a safe, people-centered traffic environment in the chronically congested Muan-eup area.

◆ What regrets do you have after managing the county government for the past three years?

The seventh term has focused on overcoming difficult challenges such as local extinction and climate change crises, seeking solutions within the unstoppable trend of the 4th Industrial Revolution.

Through these efforts, we have successfully put the Aviation Specialized Industrial Complex and Advanced Agricultural Complex projects on track and opened the first Makerspace in the southwestern region in Namak New Town to lead youth startups.

Although we have actively promoted various future-oriented projects, there was some skepticism about introducing the 4th Industrial Revolution in a rural area like Muan, which was regrettable.

However, I remain convinced that to respond to upcoming crises such as climate change, low birth rates, aging, and population outflow, we must always maintain a spirit of challenge and pursue change. I will continue to work with residents to achieve regional development.

◆ Lastly, what would you like to say to the residents?

Despite the difficult circumstances due to COVID-19, I thank the residents for actively participating in quarantine and vaccination efforts.

Thanks to residents’ cooperation, the infectious disease was calming down, but recently, with the emergence of the Delta variant, confirmed cases are rising again.

I hope everyone continues to pay attention to health and quarantine and ask for your continued advice and cooperation with county administration.

During the remaining year of the seventh term, I and about 800 public officials will do our best to carry out various pending projects without delay to realize a vibrant and happy Muan created together with residents.