Won Taek Lee, North Jeolla Governor Candidate: "Will Establish a Physical AI Ecosystem"

Campaign's Permanent Election Committee Chair, Assemblyman Jung Sik Cho

Wontak Lee, Democratic Party of Korea candidate for Governor of Jeonbuk Province, announced plans to establish a "Physical AI Ecosystem" in Jeonbuk. This ecosystem will encompass semiconductor design, validation of robotic components, data operation, and talent cultivation, aiming to fundamentally transform the region's industrial structure.

Wontak Lee, Democratic Party of Korea Candidate for Governor of Jeonbuk Province. Photo by Yonhap News

On May 16, Candidate Lee stated that he intends to transition Jeonbuk, which is currently focused on agriculture, life sciences, and tourism, into a hub for future industries based on artificial intelligence.

To achieve this, Lee pledged to designate Jeonbuk as a Physical AI Regulatory Free Special Zone, establish a national research institute, and build a specialized AI education center.

A Physical AI Strategy Committee, reporting directly to the governor, will also be established. This committee will serve as a control tower, connecting provincial administration, cities and counties, businesses, universities, and research institutions into a unified system.

Candidate Lee said, "Physical AI is a core pillar of Jeonbuk's future industries," adding, "We are currently reviewing various measures, including the appointment of experts with professional knowledge and execution capability, to ensure such experts can participate in provincial governance."

Meanwhile, the chief election campaign director for Lee's camp will be Assemblyman Cho Jeongsik, a six-term lawmaker from the Democratic Party, who was recently selected as a candidate for Speaker of the 22nd National Assembly in the second half of the term. Assemblyman Cho is regarded as a key figure in the pro-Lee Jae Myung faction, having played a central role in strategy and organization for Lee Jae Myung's presidential campaign in 2022. Cho is scheduled to officially begin his campaign support after attending the Jeonbuk Democratic Party's election committee launch event at JJ Art Hall in Jeonju on May 17.

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