President Yoon Hosts 19th Public Discussion in Chuncheon, Gangwon
"Data Is Now Money"... Fostering Gangwon Data Valley
Establishing Hydrogen Energy Bases in Donghae and Samcheok
Over 300 Billion Won to Be Invested Over 5 Years
Additional Development of Tourism Resources Using Forest Resources
President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 11th, "We will reorganize Gangwon Province's main industries into advanced industries based on digital and bio technologies and nurture it as a new advanced industrial hub of the Republic of Korea."
On the same morning at Gangwon Provincial Office, President Yoon presided over the 19th Livelihood Discussion Forum under the theme "Making Livelihoods Happy, the Power of Gangwon!" and emphasized, "We will innovate regulations that constrain regional development so that Gangwon can take a new leap forward and firmly support advanced and tourism industries."
President Yoon said, "Gangwon has protected our security with military facilities and safeguarded against natural disasters with its dense forests, dams, and lakes, but it has suffered economic difficulties due to the resulting restrictions."
He first hinted at transforming Gangwon's main industries into advanced industries to revitalize the city. President Yoon announced, "We will establish the 'Gangwon Thermal Energy Cluster' in Chuncheon, utilizing the cold water from the deep layers of Soyanggang Dam for cooling data centers and reusing the warmed water for heating nearby smart farms." Through this, the plan is to make Gangwon the capital of the data industry and support the early success of the '333 Project,' which aims for 30,000 digital industry workers, 3,000 digital companies, and 300% sales growth.
He also plans to foster Gangwon as a center for the biohealth industry. President Yoon emphasized, "This year, Gangwon was designated as a 'Global Innovation Special Zone' for health and medical data," adding, "We will support companies to freely develop technologies and challenge various fields."
In his closing remarks, President Yoon stated, "We must create economic value by de-identifying personal information. If you say 'it can never be used without the individual's consent,' when can it ever be utilized?" He added, "Data is now money. If nurtured as a national strategic industry, I believe the Gangwon Data Valley will firmly take root in Gangwon and play a significant role in the economic development of the Republic of Korea."
Additionally, President Yoon promised tailored development policies for Gangwon, including future hydrogen energy hub projects in Donghae and Samcheok, tourism industry development utilizing forest resources, veterans affairs, and expansion of transportation and medical infrastructure.
Corporate Innovation Park in Chuncheon... Hydrogen Energy Hub Established in Donghae and Samcheok
In particular, President Yoon announced the promotion of the leading project 'Chuncheon Corporate Innovation Park,' which grants land expropriation and land development rights to private companies, and stated plans to transform Donghae and Samcheok into future hydrogen energy hubs.
Through the Chuncheon Corporate Innovation Park, medical, bio, and IT companies will be able to settle in Chuncheon by providing industrial research spaces. The plan also includes establishing educational, cultural, and commercial facilities that can be conveniently used by both the talents working there and local residents.
President Yoon said, "Once the Corporate Innovation Park is established, Chuncheon will become a growth hub in the bio and IT sectors, creating more than 40,000 jobs," and stressed, "We will spare no institutional support such as financial aid for entrance road construction, easing land use regulations, and corporate tax reductions to ensure active establishment of the park and corporate relocations."
Furthermore, over the next five years, more than 300 billion KRW will be invested to build a hydrogen production plant using liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Samcheok, and Donghae will develop a hydrogen cluster with global competitiveness by establishing hydrogen-related equipment, parts manufacturing, and research and development (R&D) bases. President Yoon explained, "The Gangwon East Coast region has great potential to grow into a hydrogen industry hub centered around the LNG receiving base."
Regarding the Gangneung Natural Bio National Industrial Complex candidate site selected last year, if it passes the ongoing preliminary feasibility study by July this year, 260 billion KRW will be invested to promptly promote the industrial complex development.
Additional Development of Tourism Resources Utilizing Forest Resources... Veterans Memorial Facilities to be Built
He also emphasized the need to actively integrate Gangwon's forest resources into the tourism industry. As part of this, a plan for additional cable car construction to develop Gangwon's tourism industry was announced. President Yoon explained, "The Osaek Cable Car in Seoraksan National Park, Gangwon's first campaign pledge and a long-cherished wish for over 40 years, began construction last year," adding, "Once fully operational in 2026, it will generate an economic effect exceeding 130 billion KRW, greatly revitalizing the region." Additional cable cars will be constructed in locations desired by local residents.
In his closing remarks, President Yoon stressed the necessity of natural development for the tourism industry, saying, "Nothing can be done with an absolute preservationist philosophy. The technology lies in harmonizing preservation and utilization, and we possess that technology. Advanced technologies that allow environmental preservation while enabling use are abundant worldwide." He also plans to transform Jangseon Gariwangsan, used as a ski resort during the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, into a forest-type garden to become a tourist attraction.
Veterans affairs based on Gangwon's security history will also be carried out. First, a veterans memorial facility will be built in Chuncheon, the site of the Chuncheon Battle, the first victory in the early stages of the Korean War, to honor the sacrifices and dedication of the residents and serve as a hub for spreading veterans culture. President Yoon said, "As I have emphasized many times, the dignity of a nation depends on whom the nation remembers," and explained, "Veterans affairs is about remembering correctly. I believe there is no better region than Gangwon for properly remembering and inheriting our history."
Promises for a Livable Gangwon with Improved Medical, Water, and Transportation Infrastructure
To improve medical infrastructure in medically vulnerable areas such as Inje, Yanggu, and Hoengseong, standards for installing medical equipment like Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) will be improved so that precise diagnosis can be received at local hospitals. President Yoon explained, "Gangwon has a small population and many remote areas, making medical services weak," adding, "While medical science and medical technology must advance, the delivery system must be well established for the public to benefit."
He continued, "Access must be easy, but even if medicine advances, if there are many regulations and the delivery system is unreasonable, the public cannot enjoy the benefits. The Ministry of Health and Welfare will actively ease regulations on this, and since advanced equipment requires government financial support, we will create budgets to provide such support," he promised.
Additionally, in the Yeongdong region, where rivers are short and slopes steep causing frequent water shortages, an underground storage dam will be constructed to collect groundwater and alleviate drought concerns for local residents. President Yoon explained, "We will first invest 70% of the total project cost from national finances in Yeongok, Gangneung City, where water from Sogeumgang flows."
President Yoon also stated, "We will connect the Metropolitan Area Express Railway (GTX) B and D lines to Chuncheon and Wonju respectively, and ensure the smooth progress of the East-West high-speed railway Chuncheon-Sokcho section and the Yeoju-Wonju double-track railway," adding, "We will also properly manage the last section of the East-West 6-axis expressway, the Yeongwol-Samcheok expressway, greatly improving the lives of residents in mountainous areas."
Yoon Indirectly Refutes Claims of Election Manipulation: "Livelihood Forums Have Changed How Public Officials Work"
From the beginning of his opening remarks, President Yoon explained the achievements of the 19 livelihood forums over about three minutes, stating, "Through this, the working methods of public officials in the Presidential Office and each ministry have changed significantly," emphasizing, "We always think from the perspective of the people on the ground about what we need to do, and ministries work together in communication. Not only the central government but also the cooperation between central and local governments has organically changed."
Having conducted the 19th livelihood forum while traveling nationwide, President Yoon promised to push policies forward with a sense of speed. He said, "Through the livelihood forums started this year, we realized that discovering policy tasks from the perspective of policy consumers and breaking down barriers between ministries and departments to push policies swiftly is the right direction," and reiterated, "Going forward, all ministries will work together to accelerate policy implementation and achieve life changes that all citizens can feel."
President Yoon's explanation of the significance of the livelihood forums in his opening remarks is interpreted as an indirect rebuttal to opposition party criticisms labeling the forums as 'for general elections' or 'election manipulation.'
About 100 people, including businesspeople, local residents, farmers, national merit recipients, and students, attended the forum. From the government, Environment Minister Han Hwa-jin and Korea Forest Service Chief Nam Sung-hyun participated. From local governments, Kim Jin-tae, Governor of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, and from the Presidential Office, Policy Chief Seong Tae-yoon, Senior Secretary for Civil Society Hwang Sang-mu, and Senior Secretary for Social Affairs Jang Sang-yoon were present.
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