Haenam-gun Moves to Secure Designation as Opportunity Development and Education Development Special Zone

County Governor Myeong Hyun-gwan Proposes Designation of Development Special Zone During Local Era Committee Visit

Chairman Woo Dong-gi and Vice Chairman Lee Jeong-hyun Hold Consecutive Meetings

Myung Hyun-gwan, the governor of Haenam County, is tirelessly working day and night to attract the Opportunity Development Zone and Education Development Zone, which will serve as a cornerstone for securing future growth engines.

According to the county, on the 5th, Governor Myung visited the Local Era Committee in Sejong City and met with Chairman Woo Dong-gi to actively request a thorough review of the designation of the Opportunity Development Zone and Education Development Zone, which Haenam County is actively promoting.

Previously, on the 29th of last month, Governor Myung had visited Vice Chairman Lee Jung-hyun of the Local Era Committee, and this time he met with Chairman Woo to make a final push for the designation of the special zones.

Haenam County has applied for the designation of the Opportunity Development Zone for a total area of 860,000㎡ (260,000 pyeong), including the Solar City Enterprise City Data Center site of 660,000㎡ (200,000 pyeong) and the Hwawon Industrial Complex Offshore Wind Power Back-up Site of 200,000㎡ (60,000 pyeong). The designation is expected to be decided in June this year after review and resolution by the Local Era Committee.

(On the right) County Governor Myeong Hyun-gwan is also urging Lee Jung-hyun, Vice Chairman of the Local Era Committee, on the 29th of last month to actively consider designating Opportunity Development Zones and Education Development Zones.
[Photo by Haenam County]

Additionally, regarding the preliminary designation of the Education Development Zone pilot area through the first public contest in February, Governor Myung provided a detailed explanation of the situation in rural fishing villages facing an educational crisis due to the decline in the youth population and held a discussion on the vision and strategy of the Education Development Zone tailored to Haenam’s unique characteristics.

The designation of the Education Development Zone pilot area, led by the Ministry of Education, will be decided by the end of July after review and resolution by the Local Era Committee.

Governor Myung Hyun-gwan stated, “Haenam County’s Solar City Enterprise City is currently promoting 10 projects worth 300 billion KRW in advanced strategic industries, and together with the development of the Hwawon Industrial Complex offshore wind power equipment complex, it is expected to play a pivotal role in securing renewable energy and data centers, which are national tasks. The designation of the Opportunity Development Zone and Education Development Zone is essential as a means to attract population and solve the biggest challenges of rural fishing villages, namely jobs and education,” emphasizing the validity of the projects.

Meanwhile, on the same day, Governor Myung also visited central government ministries such as the Ministry of Economy and Finance to actively propose that Haenam County’s pending projects be reflected in the 2025 government budget.

Major projects newly proposed include the Haenam Mokpo Lighthouse Tourism and Scenic Spot Project with a budget of 31.1 billion KRW, the Complex Marine Leisure City Infrastructure Construction and Development Project with 50 billion KRW, the Rural Village Sewage System Improvement Project to alleviate local inconveniences with 34.9 billion KRW, and the Comprehensive Flood Damage Living Area Improvement Project and Natural Disaster Risk Improvement District Maintenance Project totaling 84.3 billion KRW. He also requested continued interest and support for the already underway Agricultural and Food Climate Change Response Center construction project with a budget of 55.4 billion KRW for 2025?2026.

Governor Myung Hyun-gwan expressed his determination, saying, “Considering the symbolism that balanced national development should begin in Haenam, the southernmost part of the Korean Peninsula, we are making every effort to secure the designation of the Opportunity Development Zone and Education Development Zone. We will work even harder to convey the wishes of all residents and complete the future blueprint that Haenam aims to create.”

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