[New Year's Address] Kim Jin-tae, Governor of Gangwon, "Realizing a Resident-Centered Special Autonomous Province"

Emphasizing 'Decentralization' with Authority to Ease Regulations Beyond Budget
Reducing Debt by 10% More This Year and Increasing Investment in Livelihoods and Jobs
Focusing Investment on Future Growth Engines like Semiconductors, Hydrogen, and Biohealth

Jin-tae Kim, Governor of Gangwon Province [Gangwon Province]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Kim Jin-tae, Governor of Gangwon Province, stated that in the new year, which marks the 'Inaugural Year of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province' starting anew after 628 years, they will create a citizen-centered special self-governing province with the spirit of 'Jeguposin (除舊布新)', meaning to discard the old and embrace the new.

In his New Year's greeting for the Year of the Black Rabbit (Gyemyo-nyeon, 癸卯年), Governor Kim emphasized, "Since the launch of the 8th elected Gangwon provincial government last June, focusing solely on the residents and working tirelessly, we have already repaid nearly 30% of the debt that once reached 1 trillion won, and opened the era of 9 trillion won in national funding."

Governor Kim described Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province as 'economy.' He said, "The goal of the 8th elected Gangwon provincial government is to secure authority to lift the persistent regulations on military, agriculture, environment, and forestry, and to create a new economic international city that attracts businesses and people."

He emphasized 'decentralization,' which grants authority to ease regulations rather than just budget. Governor Kim explained, "We are not asking the central government for rice cakes, but for the mortar to make rice cakes," adding, "If we are given the mortar, we will make buckwheat rice cakes, injeolmi, and make rice cakes ourselves."

He also stated that a strong financial foundation is the basis of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province. This means that only with solid finances can they freely pursue what they want and need to do.

Governor Kim said, "We will continue high-intensity fiscal innovation without wavering and reduce debt by an additional 10% this year," adding, "We will spend when necessary and save when possible! We will eliminate unnecessary waste and increase investment in people's livelihoods and jobs."

In particular, he pledged not to spare investment in future growth industries that will support Gangwon Province for the next 100 years, including semiconductors, e-mobility, hydrogen, bio-health, and more.

Governor Kim promised, "We have secured 20 billion won in national funding for the establishment of a semiconductor education center," and pledged to "accelerate efforts to attract future strategic industries such as the creation of a semiconductor cluster."

He recalled his inaugural speech, saying, "I have not forgotten the promise to make Gangwon a free land where companies come, to break away from all corruption including defeatism and secretive administration, and to realize the era of '2 million population, 100 trillion won regional GDP, and a well-connected metropolitan Gangwon'?a promise to the residents."

Reflecting on the establishment of the Special Self-Governing Province Support Committee, the selection of the new provincial office site, and the creation of the semiconductor cluster, he expressed his New Year's resolution, "I will not lose my original intention and will move forward steadily toward the future."