Chungnam Province Focuses on Major Projects Including the National Defense Industrial Complex, World Strawberry Industry Expo, and K-Heritage Valley
Designing the Next 100 Years for Nonsan's Future
Kim Taeheum, Governor of Chungnam Province, is focusing administrative resources on the development of Nonsan by spearheading major projects such as the creation of a national defense industrial complex, hosting the World Strawberry Industry Expo, and converting to a smart livestock complex.
He also presented a long-term vision for the region, stating, "We will develop Nonsan into a core hub of the southern region where defense, agriculture, and culture converge."
On October 16, Governor Kim visited Nonsan City to communicate directly with residents and discuss sustainable future development strategies.
During a press conference and a conversation with local residents that day, he stated, "Chungnam Province will mobilize all its capabilities to help Nonsan grow into a future-oriented city that harmonizes defense, agriculture, and culture."
Chungnam Province is pursuing several key strategies for Nonsan’s development, including the establishment of a national defense industrial complex, the successful hosting of the 2027 Nonsan World Strawberry Industry Expo, the transition to a smart livestock complex, and the creation of the K-Heritage Valley.
The national defense industrial complex, currently being developed in the Yeonmu-eup area of Nonsan, will cover 870,000 square meters and is being built with a total investment of 160.7 billion won, with completion targeted for 2029.
The province plans to expand the industrial complex to a size of 3.3 million square meters (1 million pyeong) and attract defense-related institutions and companies, aiming to establish it as a "K-Defense Mecca."
The 2027 Nonsan World Strawberry Industry Expo will take place from February 26 to March 21, 2027, under the theme "K-Berry! Smart Agriculture, Healthy Future," with a total project budget of 19.7 billion won.
The province expects to attract more than 1.5 million visitors and generate an economic impact of 520 billion won.
The Gwangseok-myeon pig farming complex will be transformed into a smart livestock complex by 2028 by demolishing outdated facilities and introducing an ICT-based environmental management system.
It will be developed as the nation’s first "resource-circulating eco-friendly complex" model, where livestock manure is converted into biogas and then recycled into electricity and thermal energy.
In the Noseong-myeon area of Nonsan, the "K-Heritage Valley" will be established to promote Korea’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage to the world. This project, with a total investment of 38 billion won, has secured 1 billion won in national funding this year and has entered the full-scale implementation stage.
The "Nonsan Public Postnatal Care Center," opening next month, is the first public postnatal care facility in the southern region of Chungnam Province, built with a total investment of 12.4 billion won. Equipped with 15 mother-and-baby rooms, a newborn care room, and breastfeeding facilities, it is expected to ease the burden of mothers who previously had to travel elsewhere for childbirth.
Governor Kim emphasized, "We will establish a standard model for the future of pig farming through the Gwangseok Smart Livestock Complex, and prepare a century-long food source for Nonsan through the national defense complex and the Strawberry Expo. We will foster Nonsan as the central axis of balanced development in the southern region of Chungnam Province."
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