Increased jobs and tax revenues by attracting companies... Making citizens' lives happy is an achievement
Establishing a peace economy in border areas... Connect railways and roads and prepare for tourism, agriculture and fisheries exchanges
(Chuncheon = Yonhap News) Reporter Jaehyun Lee = Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Governor Woo Sang-ho, who is about 100 days away from taking office, said on the 5th, "The biggest reward of the past three months is that four major domestic conglomerates have entered the stage of reviewing or confirming investment in Gangwon-do."
In an interview with Yonhap News on this day, Governor Woo said, "The reason we were able to choose and focus on the AI data center was because we judged that Gangwon-do's abundant water and electricity, as well as empty industrial complexes, were the best place to attract an AI data center." At the same time, Gangwon-do's will to lead the AI data center field among the government's three mega projects was made clear.
He then emphasized, “The goal is to create good jobs and secure tax revenue by attracting large companies to dramatically change the lives and residential conditions of residents,” and added, “The expanded finances will be invested intensively in housing, transportation, medical care, education, and welfare.”
Regarding the peace policy in a situation where inter-Korean relations have been severed for a long time, he said, “Peace is the future of Gangwon-do,” and announced plans to build a foundation for a peace economy in the border area and prepare for exchanges in railways, roads, tourism, and agriculture and fisheries industries in preparation for improving inter-Korean relations.
The following is a Q&A with Governor Woo.
-- 100 days since inauguration. The most meaningful achievement.
▲ The biggest focus over the past three months has been attracting investment. For Gangwon-do to develop, corporate investment must begin in earnest. Securing national funding is important, but financial investment alone has its limits. Only when corporate investment and financial investment occur together can Gangwon-do develop and jobs increase. GS plans to begin construction within the year by promoting the Donghae AI Data Center, and SK, KT, and Shinsegae are also reviewing or discussing investment. The greatest reward of the past three months is that four major domestic conglomerates have entered the stage of reviewing or confirming investment in the province. I think it will be a success only when a large company actually invests and operates the company and talented people from Gangwon-do get jobs at the company.
-- Among the government's three megaprojects, Gangwon-do is accelerating in the AI data center field. Which strategy has been effective?
▲ Compared to other attempts, we approached it with a clearer strategy. Instead of targeting several high-tech industries at once, they only targeted large AI data centers. Gangwon-do's abundance of water, electricity, and empty industrial complexes were judged to be the best place to host an AI data center, so they selected and focused on it. It also coincided with a period when investment in AI data centers increased significantly globally. Although the government's three major mega projects are being carried out in various areas, Gangwon-do has consistently focused on AI data centers, and I think that has helped attract large companies.
-- What is the current stage of attracting investment in AI data centers?
▲ We are in contact with 4 large companies in 4 cities. Attracting a large company is not a simple task. Decision-making takes time, and many variables arise in the process of persuading companies and finding a location. SK alone initially discussed a scale of 1.2GW, but is discussing ways to reduce the scale due to substation problems. For now, we plan to focus on successfully attracting four large companies rather than expanding our business further. Only if one thing is done properly can it be considered an achievement. Samcheok has the land and power capacity to attract one or two additional sites, but for now, we will focus on completing the existing four projects.
-- How do you plan to solve power issues such as transmission and distribution networks?
▲ Electricity produced in Gangwon-do must be used in Gangwon-do to attract companies. If the electricity produced in Gangwon is sent to the metropolitan area and other regions, there will be nothing left in Gangwon-do. We will create future food by turning Gangwon-do's natural resources, such as water, sunlight, wind, and hydrogen, into clean energy resources and attracting companies that utilize them. In addition to securing clean energy sources, securing transmission and distribution networks is also important. Since we have signed a business agreement with KEPCO to innovate the Gangwon-do power grid, we will prepare a detailed plan together.
-- How is the 'Clean Energy Highway', a key pledge, being promoted?
▲ The Clean Energy Expressway is a project to create clean energy production facilities such as solar and wind power on newly secured land due to the northward passage of the Civilian Control Line. Currently, the Ministry of National Defense is drawing a detailed picture, including the area and scope north of the Civilian Control Line. Once the Ministry of National Defense prepares a detailed plan, the target site, power generation method, and power system will be reviewed and the project will begin in earnest. We will create a structure in which the electricity produced here will be supplied to companies and the profits from power generation will be returned to border area residents through the 'Gangwon Clean Pension'.
-- Can it lead to jobs for youth?
▲ It should not end with building a data center. Another task is what more these companies will do with Gangwon Province in the future. We need to connect Gangwon-do talent with companies and connect companies and industrial ecosystems in the province. Only when attracting investment is successful will good jobs be created, and only when there are good jobs will young people in Gangwon-do get jobs and not leave. We will attract high-tech large corporations and various investments to attract good companies and create jobs there so that young people can settle down there.
-- How can we connect the results of attracting companies to the lives of local residents?
▲ Just because Gangwon-do is poor, does that mean its residents have to live in discomfort? The goal is to change the lives and residential conditions of residents by creating good jobs and securing tax revenue by attracting companies. The expanded finances will be invested intensively in five areas: housing, transportation, medical care, education, and welfare. Gangwon-do has a great asset called nature, but it has shortcomings in transportation, medical care, and conditions for raising and educating children. It is important to improve these living conditions along with good jobs so that people from other regions want to come and live in Gangwon-do. I believe that my achievement is to make the lives of the residents happy.
-- ‘Peace Gangwon’ is also one of the pillars of the 9th popular election. What can be done in a situation where inter-Korean relations are blocked?
▲ Peace is the future of Gangwon-do. Since Gangwon-do is a region directly affected by division, peace is very important. Although it is difficult to pursue a peace project between North and South Korea right now, even if inter-Korean relations do not improve, we must create a foundation for a peace economy on which the border region can support itself. Such preparations include connecting the Peace Train to Cheorwon and establishing transportation networks such as the Gangneung-Jejin Railway and the Cheorwon-Pocheon Expressway in advance. It will be too late to start after inter-Korean relations have improved. We will utilize the Civilian Control Line and DMZ as tourism resources and prepare for future exchanges in tourism and agriculture and fisheries.
-- What would you like to say to the citizens of the province on your 100th day in office?
▲ We ran really hard and achieved quite a bit of results. Attracting companies is in progress, and an era of government funding of 11 trillion won has begun. Several national highways, national maps, and national projects were also secured. However, the things we want to pursue are just beginning. To evaluate the progress, I would like you to watch for at least a year. We will look at it step by step to ensure that all 18 cities and counties benefit equally. I think Taojeong is a comprehensive art. We will design the system well so that companies in Gangwon-do can receive the benefits of large-scale investments. I hope that Gangwon-do residents will receive more benefits and become happier in their lives. I will do my best.
