Jeonnam Governor Kim Youngrok, Song Singyeon Press Conference Statement
Determined to Turn Crisis into Opportunity and Enhance Global Competitiveness
Vows to Soar High with Two Million Residents
Major Achievement: Foundation Laid for Jeonnam National Medical School
Proud of Large-scale SOC Expansion and Livelihood Stabilization Measures
Jeonlanam Province Governor Kim Youngrok held a year-end press conference on the 26th at the provincial government briefing room, announcing the major achievements of 2024 and the administrative direction for 2025. Provided by Jeonnam Province
Governor Kim Yung-rok also presented the vision of 'The Great JeollaNamdo' for 2025, the Eulsanyeon New Year, aiming to soar together with the residents of the province, and laid out strategies to realize 'Happy Jeonnam', 'Jeonnam of Opportunities', and 'Jeonnam with Culture'.
Governor Kim Yung-rok of Jeonnam stated, "In the new year of Eulsanyeon, a symbol of wisdom and change, we will boldly envision the future that Jeonnam dreams of to realize the vision of 'The Great JeollaNamdo'."
On the 26th, Governor Kim Yung-rok held a year-end press conference in the briefing room of the provincial government and announced that he would meticulously manage key policies in each sector for 'Happy Jeonnam', 'Jeonnam of Opportunities', and 'Jeonnam with Culture'.
First, Governor Kim emphasized that he would prioritize 'livelihood stability' to revitalize the local economy. To this end, he plans to invest 118.5 billion KRW, including reserve funds, in 23 projects, such as: issuing 350 billion KRW worth of local love gift certificates with a 10% discount rate; providing 9.1 billion KRW in emergency management stabilization funds for pear farmers, abalone aquaculture farms, and seaweed processing companies; supporting food expenses for senior citizen centers; providing emergency livelihood stabilization funds for bus and taxi drivers; and strongly recommending an emergency livelihood recovery support fund of 200,000 KRW per person.
To drive innovative growth in 'next-generation advanced strategic industries', Governor Kim mentioned the 333 Project, which aims to increase the number of venture and startup companies to 3,000, companies with annual sales over 10 billion KRW to 300, and listed companies to 30 by 2034; the early establishment of a national industrial complex for space launch vehicles; attracting 30 trillion KRW in investment and creating 35,000 jobs by 2026; and promptly designating Yeosu as a preemptive response area for the petrochemical industry crisis.
In line with the global trend of expanding renewable energy, he plans to utilize Jeonnam's renewable energy as a national growth engine through the 'Korea Energy Highway', including: developing 24GW of offshore wind and solar power; designating the nation's first distributed energy specialized area; and building the nation's first hydrogen pipeline network in Yeosu and Gwangyang.
In the agriculture, fisheries, and livestock sectors, to achieve 1 billion USD in exports by 2026, the province will: expand rice production infrastructure; foster the rice processing industry; expand rice sales channels; expand the target group for the Jeonnam Women's Farmers and Fishers Happiness Voucher; propose expanding seaweed farming licenses; establish the National Seaweed Industry Promotion Institute; and build a logistics center exclusively for dried seaweed.
In the culture and tourism sector, the province aims to open the era of 100 million Jeonnam tourists early, with the intention of becoming a 'global cultural and tourism hub' by inheriting the global excellence of Hangang literature. Specifically, it plans to: host the Jeonnam Literature Expo; build the Jeonnam Literature Museum; successfully hold the 2025 Namdo International Gastronomy Industry Expo; thoroughly prepare for the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo; and host the 2025 National Sports for All Festival and attract 1 million training teams.
With the determination to lay the foundation for the next 100 years, the province will expand key SOCs by: reflecting large-scale SOC projects such as the Yeongam~Gwangju Expressway, Goheung~Gwangju Space Expressway, and Yeosu~Suncheon Expressway in the national plan; opening the Namhae Line in October 2025; starting construction of the Gyeongjeon Line in the second half of 2025; building Yeosu Hwatae~Baekya, Shinan Aphae~Haenam Hwawon bridges and Yeosu~Namhae undersea tunnel; and extending the runway and building a new terminal at Muan International Airport.
To fully launch the population transformation project and realize a happy community, the province will: implement the Jeonnam-County/City Basic Birth Allowance; supply Jeonnam-style 10,000 KRW housing; specify the Jeonnam-style basic income pilot project; establish the Jeonnam-style integrated care system; build public children's rehabilitation medical and dental centers; secure substantial autonomy through the establishment of Jeollanam Special Self-Governing Province; and promote three major local education innovation projects, including the Regional Innovation-Centered University Support System (RISE).
Governor Kim cited the establishment of the foundation for a national medical school in Jeollanamdo as a major achievement this year. In advanced strategic industries, he highlighted the designation of five industries covering 1.25 million pyeong in the Opportunity Development Zone; designation of Hwasun as a national advanced strategic industry specialized complex in the bio sector; establishment of the Goheung space launch vehicle industry cluster; and exemption from the preliminary feasibility study for the national industrial complex for space launch vehicles.
Governor Kim Yung-rok said, "Despite uncertainties across politics, economy, and society this year, all residents joined forces to create a new history for the era of Jeonnam's great leap forward and happiness," and added, "In the new year, all residents must unite to wisely overcome crises and vigorously move forward as a global Jeonnam that confidently competes and cooperates with the world, 'The Greater Jeonnam.'"
He continued, "If we continue to strive with the potential and determined spirit of Jeonnam people, the challenges ahead will surely become stepping stones to greater opportunities and hope," and pledged, "Together with 2 million residents, 'OK! Now Jeonnam', we will fully open the era of Jeonnam in both name and reality."
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