[Interview] Uiseong Governor Kim Jusu: "Airport, Cell Cultivation, and Smart Agriculture... Designing Uiseong's Next 100 Years"

"The Essence of Administration is People"
AI-Based Sustainable City
Completing Residents' Happiness

"For the nation to thrive, local communities must flourish first. And that journey begins with the life of every single resident."

Interview with Kim Jusu, Uiseong County Governor. Photo by Kwon Byunggun

Kim Jusu, Governor of Uiseong County, offered this assessment of Uiseong's current situation, which faces both crisis and change. Despite the dual challenges of large-scale wildfires and population decline, he has prioritized 'tangible happiness for residents' over external growth. Now, he is actively implementing industrial, welfare, and administrative strategies to secure Uiseong’s long-term future for the next century.

◆ "The Airport Economic Zone: Uiseong’s 100-Year Growth Engine"

"An airport is not just a transportation facility. It is a core infrastructure that creates an entire economic ecosystem. Uiseong will complete its growth model by focusing on three pillars: air logistics, agricultural exports, and becoming a logistics hub. We are detailing plans to establish an air logistics complex, an agri-food cluster, and a new airport city in the area designated for the airport. We also plan to solidify the foundation for a century of prosperity by pursuing designation as an economic free zone and implementing a smart city strategy in parallel."

◆ "Cell Cultivation Industry: A Major Industrial Transformation for an Agricultural City"

"Since being designated as a regulatory free zone in 2019, we have focused on fostering the cell cultivation industry. We secured 14.5 billion won through selection for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs’ Food Tech Research Support Center project. We were also chosen for the K-U City Research Support Center construction project, establishing a foundation for both talent development and technological advancement. This is not merely about attracting an industry; it is a decisive turning point for transforming Uiseong into a global hub for the food industry. Moving forward, we will build an AI-based industrialization system to complete a food-bio convergence ecosystem, which will lead to an influx of young people and the creation of high value-added jobs."

◆ "Drone and Anti-Drone Industries: New Growth Engines for National Defense and Public Safety"

"The Uiseong Drone Flight Test Center was designated last year as the nation’s first official anti-drone training ground. We are developing an Anti-Drone Industry Support Center on the site of Gaeum Middle School, aiming for completion by 2027. This will not simply be a space for technical testing; we will intensively foster drone and anti-drone technologies that can be applied to national defense, industry, and public safety. In the long term, we expect synergies with airport logistics and forest disaster prevention."

◆ "Smart Agriculture: Creating a Youthful Rural Community"

"We must add innovation to tradition. A representative example is the Uiseong Garlic Smart Open-Field Agriculture Pilot Project. By combining digital technology with climate-adaptive farming methods, we have increased both productivity and efficiency. We were also selected for a 3.8 billion won national project to develop open-field smart agriculture models. We are further advancing distribution and consumption supply chains through the smart transformation of key fruit APCs, the creation of an integrated food support center, and the establishment of an organic agricultural industry complex. We will transform Uiseong into an agriculture-centered city where young people can take on new challenges."

◆ "Welfare Must Be Embedded in Everyday Life"

"Welfare is a fundamental value that permeates all aspects of life. We have established integrated healthcare and care systems for elderly residents, residential and startup spaces for young people, and essential medical systems for children. In particular, the pilot project for integrated medical and care support for seniors, which is set to expand nationwide in 2026, is currently being operated as a public-private collaboration model.

The three essential medical systems?public postpartum care centers, pediatric clinics, and emergency obstetrics?are also nearing completion. We have established 12 infrastructure facilities, including youth centers, multi-purpose cultural centers, and startup spaces, to create a virtuous cycle of employment, entrepreneurship, growth, and settlement."

◆ "People-Centered, Field-Oriented Administration Remains Unchanged"

"The essence of administration is people. We will continue to uphold the principles of people-centered and field-oriented governance. By systematizing administrative data and integrating AI into major policies, we will build a sustainable system of administration. A city where all 50,000 residents can say they are 'happy'?that is Uiseong’s vision for the next hundred years."

Governor Kim Jusu’s strategy is not just a development blueprint, but a fundamental pursuit of improving residents’ quality of life. Even amidst crisis, he is closely linking administration, industry, and welfare to transform Uiseong from a 'region at risk of extinction' into a 'city designing its future.' His vision sets the direction for Uiseong’s next 100 years.