Chungnam Province has requested support from the National Assembly for a green urban transformation in areas where coal-fired power plants are being decommissioned.
On the 11th, the province held the "Forum on Creating New Growth Engines in Areas with Decommissioned Power Plants" at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Seoul, together with National Assembly member Jang Donghyuk, the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, the National Green Technology Research Institute, and the Korea Society for Environmental Management.
The forum presented strategies for generating new growth engines and addressing economic changes in regions affected by the closure of power plants.
Jang Changseok, a senior researcher at the Chungnam Research Institute, proposed the establishment of the largest "Carbon Neutral Edu Center" in the central region. This center will support local residents in transitioning to green industries and carbon-neutral related jobs through relevant facilities.
Song Jaeryeong, a senior researcher at the National Green Technology Research Institute, presented a blueprint for transforming the region into concrete leading models, such as "Blue Eco City Boryeong" and a hub for startups and climate tech.
According to international cases presented by the province, Germany established a related museum at the Zollverein Coal Mine site, where mining activities continued until 1986. This site was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. About 70% of the site has been converted into green spaces and forests, transforming it into a complex cultural space that attracts 1.5 million visitors annually.
In the United Kingdom, after the Bankside Power Station was shut down in 1981 and left unused for 20 years, the Tate Modern art museum was opened on the site, turning it into a major destination for tourism and communication.
Gu Sang, Director of the Provincial Environment and Forest Bureau, stated, "Policy responses that consider both the local economy and the environment are essential during the transition of areas where power plants are being decommissioned," adding, "This forum will be the first step toward a successful green transformation of coal-fired power plant regions, including the establishment of the largest carbon-neutral comprehensive center in the central region."
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