Governor Kim Jin-tae asks President Yoon to support the establishment of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province and the "4 Major Regulatory Reforms"

"President Yoon's No.1 Pledge for Gangwon Province"‥Active Support Proposed for April National Assembly Passage
"Seoraksan Osaek Cable Car Symbolizes 40 Years of Gangwon Province Regulation"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Kim Jin-tae, Governor of Gangwon Province, expressed a strong commitment to President Yoon Seok-yeol's first Gangwon Province pledge, the 'Establishment of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province,' and the 'Four Major Regulatory Reforms.' He also requested active support from the president and the executive branch to ensure the Gangwon Special Act passes in the April National Assembly session.

Governor Kim Jin-tae met with reporters at the Gangwon Provincial Office on the 13th and said, "The launch of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province should accelerate decentralization across all 17 metropolitan cities and provinces nationwide," referring to the recent Central-Local Cooperation Meeting.

Governor Jin-tae Kim of Gangwon Province held a press conference on the 13th and emphasized, "We must accelerate local decentralization with the launch of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province."
[Photo by Gangwon Province]

Governor Kim stated, "This decentralization is not just for Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province alone, but through Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, we want South Korea to develop," adding, "If Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province succeeds, all of South Korea succeeds."

Regarding the purpose of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, he said, "Regulations are a nationwide issue in South Korea, but they are especially severe in Gangwon Province," and cited the Seoraksan Osaek Cable Car as a symbolic example of the 40-year-long regulatory challenges in Gangwon Province. He emphasized the necessity of regulatory reform in Gangwon.

He reiterated that this is not about special favors for Gangwon Province nor asking for additional 'budget,' but rather requesting 'authority' so that the residents of Gangwon can sustain themselves independently.

The amendment to the Gangwon Special Act includes ▲ the vision for Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province ▲ expansion of autonomy in organizational structure and personnel ▲ improvement and delegation of authority in the four core regulatory areas (farmland, national defense, forestry, and environment) ▲ customized support for fostering future industries ▲ promotion of sustainable development responding to scientific and technological innovation and climate change ▲ and development of internationally competitive talent through improvements in the educational autonomy system.

The regulated areas across the four sectors of environment, forestry, national defense, and agriculture cover 21,891㎢, which is 1.3 times the administrative area of the province (16,825㎢). This is 1.9 times the area of the Seoul metropolitan area and 36.2 times the area of Seoul City.

The province believes that by receiving delegated authority from central government ministries or easing regulations in these sectors, it will be able to advance key regional projects that have long been envisioned.

A representative regulatory relaxation in the environmental sector is acquiring authority for environmental impact assessment consultations. In the forestry sector, regulatory easing includes securing permits for forest land use to resolve unreasonable overlapping regulations on forest areas.

In the military sector, the main point is to secure authority to move the civilian access control line (Civilian Control Line, CCL) northward in border areas, which has been excessively set, thereby effectively reducing residents' inconveniences. In the agricultural sector, regulatory relaxation includes considering the lifting of some agricultural promotion zones that have lost effectiveness.

To this end, it was clearly stated that Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province will be a new driving force and turning point for national development ushering in the era of local autonomy. The main contents include special provisions on autonomy in organizational structure and educational autonomy. The responsibility for fiscal soundness reflects Governor Kim Jin-tae’s commitment to a sound fiscal policy since the beginning of his term.

The plan also includes comprehensive plans and infrastructure development to lay the foundation for a future industry global city. It contains special provisions for the establishment of advanced science and technology complexes such as the semiconductor industry, rational use and conservation plans for forest land, and special provisions for nurturing future industry talent.

Additionally, there are special provisions concerning domestic duty-free shops, a total quota system for domestic casinos in mining areas, military meal supply contracts in border areas, environmental impact assessments, unused military land, deep ocean water, and the Gangwon National Cemetery.

Meanwhile, President Yoon reiterated his firm commitment to the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province pledge and reportedly promised to confirm with the Ministry of Environment to ensure the Osaek Cable Car project proceeds without fail.