Gangwon gubernatorial candidates unveil campaign pledges

The 6.3 local elections are heating up in Gangwon Province, with the gubernatorial race featuring a direct confrontation between the Democratic Party's Woo Sang-ho and the People Power Party's Kim Jin-tae. Both candidates have launched their campaigns by presenting extensive pledges: Woo with '5 Visions and 65 Pledges' and Kim with '16 Fields and 117 Pledges'.

On the 24th, according to the election committees of each candidate, Woo, who is described as 'the person sent by the President,' has emphasized pledges related to jobs, industry, and youth. In contrast, Kim, known as 'the Gangwon person of loyalty and steadfastness,' has focused on livelihood-related pledges such as the Gangwon-type 4 Citizen Pension and support for 4 types of half-price goods.

◇ Cheorwon Native Woo Sang-ho: 'Clean Energy Expressway in Border Areas... Wonju Medical AX Cluster'

Woo, aiming to reclaim the provincial government for the Democratic Party, presented 5 visions, including creating an environment where young people can stay through job and industry creation, attracting people through tourism promotion projects, and turning border regions into new economic hubs where peace becomes money.

Woo, a native of Cheorwon, highlighted the 'Clean Energy Expressway' as a key pledge, which aims to transform border regions into new economic growth engines through deregulation of military restrictions.

This plan involves securing usable land by moving the Civilian Control Line (Min Tong Sun), which is currently within 10 km south of the Military Demarcation Line, 5 km further north, and establishing renewable energy infrastructure such as solar and wind power on the acquired land.

The profits generated from the so-called Clean Energy Expressway are planned to be distributed and returned to the residents of the border regions in the form of 'Gangwon Clean Pension.'

In addition, he emphasized that he has already secured the attraction of a large-scale AI data center in the Gangneung area, with an investment of up to 70 trillion won over 10 years. This is to be done through 'direct investment' by one of the top 5 major domestic corporations.

He promised to create a 'Medical AX (AI Transformation) Global Cluster' in Wonju.

Beyond a simple manufacturing complex, the plan is to gradually establish a 'Pangyo-type research and industrial ecosystem' by 2032, integrating global research and development (R&D) centers and advanced companies based on medical data, AI, and bio-health, connecting research, demonstration, commercialization, investment, startups, and settlement.

Furthermore, he presented pledges for young people to return, such as expanding support for public housing for youth and creating youth villages.

The supply of public support housing for youth and long-term public rental housing, with the concept of 'your home next to your workplace,' will be expanded, and youth share houses, startup hubs, and youth villages will be created.

He cited high housing costs, lack of jobs for settlement, and insufficient quality rental housing and living infrastructure as reasons why over 3,800 young people leave Gangwon Province annually.

Therefore, Woo repeatedly emphasized the need for a transition to a model that combines housing, startups, local content, and community.

Woo promised, 'We will end the reality where young people have to leave their hometowns in search of jobs, and create a Gangwon where they can stay, dream, and challenge again. We will create jobs and industries to attract young people and businesses, and build a Gangwon that the world seeks as a tourism destination.'

◇ Re-election Bid Kim Jin-tae: 'Continuity of Future Industries, Life-Cycle Gangwon-Type Care System'

Kim, a native of Chuncheon seeking re-election, stated that he began changing Gangwon Province's industrial map during his first term, focusing on 7 future industries. In his second term, he has prioritized livelihood-focused pledges that change the lives of the residents.

The core of his platform is the 'Gangwon-type 4 Citizen Pensions' and the '4 Half-Price Series,' which guarantee the entire life cycle of residents.

The 4 Citizen Pensions, the first integrated pension system at the provincial level, are designed as the Didimdol, Baram, Haetbit, and Sallim pensions. If one qualifies for all four programs, they can receive up to 900,000 won per month per person.

The 'Didimdol Pension' is a policy to fill the income gap (ages 60-65) that occurs between retirement and the start of National Pension payments. If one pays 70,000 won per month for 10 years starting at age 50, they will receive 220,000 won per month for 5 years starting at age 60.

The 'Baram Pension' and 'Haetbit Pension' are models that expand the successful case of the Gadeoksan Wind Power Plant to share revenue from renewable energy generation with residents. If residents invest approximately 30 million won, they are guaranteed a fixed monthly income of 250,000 won with a 10% interest rate. The principal investment can be recovered upon maturity.

The 'Sallim Pension' is a pledge to gradually expand the basic income for rural and fishing communities, currently implemented in some areas like Jeongseon, to the entire province. It is characterized by incentives proportional to the residency period, designed to encourage settlement, and plans to guarantee a monthly living income of over 150,000 won.

The '4 Half-Price Series' are support pledges not only for primary industry workers such as agriculture, forestry, and fisheries but also for families raising children.

The 'Half-Price Agricultural Materials Support' is a program that supports 50% of all essential items for farm operations, including fertilizers, pesticides, and seeds. This provides a tangible benefit of 1.2 million won per farm household in the province.

Building on the success of Kim's half-price agricultural materials initiative during his first term, this has been expanded to include support for fishery and forestry materials.

The 'Half-Price Fishery Materials Support Project,' which supports 50% of the cost of purchasing fishing materials, is designed to save an average of 1 million won per fishing vessel annually. The forestry materials support project, which supports 50% of forestry materials such as fertilizers and seeds, is designed to provide an average benefit of 700,000 won per forestry household annually.

The pledge to support 'Half-Price Childcare Products' to alleviate the economic burden on families raising children in the province has also been reaffirmed.

Kim stated, 'If the past four years were a time to make Gangwon Province special, the next four years will be about specially changing the lives of each and every resident. We will build a 'life-cycle Gangwon-type care system' that covers everything from childbirth and childcare to education, employment, and old-age pensions.'