Governor Kim Taeheum: "We Will Reform the Structure and System of Agriculture and Rural Areas to Attract Young People"

At Year-End Press Conference: "Over Half of 8.25 Million Square Meters of Smart Farms to Be Completed Next Year"
"Chungnam-Daejeon Administrative Integration Will Create Korea's Second Economic Hub"

Kim Taeheum Chungnam Governor

On the 23rd, Kim Tae-heum, Governor of Chungnam Province, stated, "Next year, we will reform the structure and system of agriculture and rural communities to create profitable agriculture and attract young people."

At a year-end press conference held in the provincial government’s main conference room, Governor Kim emphasized, "Of the 8.25 million square meters of smart farms targeted during the 8th popularly elected administration, more than half will be completed next year. We will attract national projects worth 78.2 billion KRW and corporate investments totaling 350 billion KRW, including Celltrion, to the agro-bio convergence industry cluster."

He further explained, "Celltrion is expected to make a large-scale investment of over 1 trillion KRW through the signing of a legally binding MOA early next year."

He also stated, "We will secure resident acceptance for the ICT convergence livestock complex and push for its establishment in densely populated pig farming areas, and promote facility modernization through the 1 trillion KRW livestock fund."

In particular, he highlighted, "The province’s policies, such as transitioning away from coal-based energy and restructuring industrial frameworks, have been recognized for excellence by the OECD. In response to the abolishment of coal-fired power plants, we will prepare for a hydrogen-centered energy transition, expand offshore wind and solar power, and increase the use of industrial renewable energy from 22% to 90% by 2035, including the Dangjin Green Energy Hub."

He added, "We will attract a specialized industrial accident hospital to Dangjin City and achieve the designation of a free economic zone and the opening of a free economic zone authority."

Governor Kim stressed, "By achieving administrative integration between Chungnam and Daejeon, we will create Korea’s second-largest economic hub with a population of 3.6 million and a GRDP of 190 trillion KRW."

He continued, "We will promote balanced regional development by leveraging local characteristics. The northern region will be designated as a free economic zone, while the southern region will become a special opportunity development zone, thereby narrowing economic and industrial gaps between regions. We will also steadily implement development strategies for the five major regions."

He also expressed his commitment to further advancing the 'Himssen Chungnam Full Care Policy,' which supports children from birth to adulthood.

Governor Kim said, "Next year, we will expand to 25 centers each across all cities and counties both 24/7 childcare centers and village care centers that operate year-round, even on holidays."

He further explained, "We will expand the four-day workweek for public institutions, which was implemented for the first time in the country, to private companies next year, providing incentives and other support."

He also announced, "We will work to promptly improve the relaxation of combined income requirements for couples and the integration of childcare support funds for the special newborn loan program, which were proposed to and accepted by the government."