[Interview] "Saemangeum to Add 80MW of RE100 Solar Power... 700,000 Pyeong of Farmland Officially Converted to Industrial Land"

Kim Uigyeom, Commissioner of the Saemangeum Development and Investment Agency
"Building an Environment for Safe Investment"

"We can't turn companies away just because there's no land available. I met with the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and persuaded him again and again. Thanks to the ministry's forward-looking cooperation, we finally agreed to prioritize converting 700,000 pyeong (2.3 square kilometers) of the Agricultural Life Zone Section 7 into industrial land."

Kim Uigyeom, Commissioner of the Saemangeum Development and Investment Agency, who calls himself the "problem solver of Saemangeum," has been working on-site even on weekends. Just five months after taking office in July, he has secured additional industrial land and achieved a record increase in the budget, resolving Saemangeum's chronic issues. Saemangeum is the largest reclaimed land in Korea, created by blocking the sea off Gunsan, Gimje, and Buan in North Jeolla Province with the world's longest seawall. Its area is about two-thirds the size of Seoul. Despite being labeled the "largest project since Dangun," development has repeatedly stalled and resumed for over 30 years. Commissioner Kim has focused on "sales administration," personally addressing the shortage of land and electricity that companies have complained about.

Overcoming the 'Investment Slowdown' Crisis... Breakthrough by Converting Farmland to Industrial Land

Kim Uigyeom, Commissioner of Saemangeum Development and Investment Agency. Saemangeum Development and Investment Agency

In an interview with The Asia Business Daily on December 5, Commissioner Kim said, "My top priority during my term is to establish Saemangeum as the forward base for Korea's RE100." He added, "Saemangeum is the only place with large-scale industrial land that can provide one-stop licensing support without land compensation. While outsiders may see Saemangeum as just a regional development project, after meeting with business leaders, environmental groups, and local governments on-site over the past five months, I am convinced that Saemangeum is the optimal location for realizing RE100." He plans to significantly expand the originally planned 6GW of renewable energy across the entire Saemangeum area.

The most urgent issue was the shortage of industrial land. As more companies moved into the Saemangeum National Industrial Complex, available land ran out, causing investment to slow. The Saemangeum Development and Investment Agency decided to accelerate the development of Zone 4, originally planned for 2040, by 15 years, but this was still insufficient to meet immediate demand. Drawing on his unique political acumen from his experience as a journalist, presidential spokesperson, and National Assembly member, Commissioner Kim broke down bureaucratic barriers between ministries. He secured an agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to prioritize converting 700,000 pyeong of Agricultural Life Zone Section 7 into industrial land. Previously, the ministry had opposed such conversion, citing the principle of farmland preservation. Commissioner Kim explained, "The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will directly develop the site as a food industry-only complex, and if there is additional corporate demand in the future, we plan to expand the conversion to the entire Agricultural Life Zone Section 7 (18 square kilometers, 5.445 million pyeong) through further negotiations."

Final Budget of 214.8 Billion Won, Firmly Securing Saemangeum's Share

Commissioner Kim's "sales administration" was also evident in the budget. The Saemangeum Development and Investment Agency's 2026 budget was set at 213.3 billion won in the government proposal, a 78.5% increase over the previous year. Commissioner Kim persuaded lawmakers from both parties one-on-one during the National Assembly review process and secured an additional 1.5 billion won. All of the additional budget will be used to support businesses. The final confirmed budget stands at 214.8 billion won. Considering the setbacks experienced due to budget cuts under the previous administration, this is a "spectacular comeback." Commissioner Kim said, "The significant increase in the budget was possible because there was consensus in the National Assembly and among fiscal authorities that Saemangeum is a key hub for the energy transition and balanced national development. We will immediately invest in building an integrated energy platform for RE100 and in social overhead capital (SOC) projects."

The Saemangeum Development and Investment Agency has already established a dedicated 180MW renewable energy supply network for the Saemangeum Industrial Complex Sections 5 and 6, designated as a national smart green pilot complex, and is pursuing plans to secure additional generation facilities. Commissioner Kim stated, "We are considering adding an 80MW facility near the planned 120MW solar power complex on the remaining land at the Saemangeum New Airport." If this plan is finalized, the smart green complex alone will have a total renewable energy supply of 260MW, with an additional 80MW added to the existing 180MW dedicated line.

"My Role Is to Give Companies Breathing Room Through RE100"

Efforts to resolve corporate challenges are also accelerating. Commissioner Kim said, "After meeting business leaders on-site and listening to their stories, I found that each industry faces different difficulties, such as unstable power supply, difficulty securing talent, and negative perceptions of Chinese capital. We are preparing plans to open substations early, establish new power switching stations, and improve residential conditions." Regarding Chinese capital, he said, "We will strengthen communication to prevent the spread of misinformation and create an environment where companies are protected." On the competition for jurisdiction among the three cities and counties of Gunsan, Gimje, and Buan, he commented, "This is a natural phenomenon arising from growing development expectations. It should not be viewed solely in a negative light, as it reflects concern for regional development." He added, "We will ensure balanced and shared growth."

Commissioner Kim, a "local boy" who spent his school years in Gunsan, said, "When I was a child taking the ferry between Yamido and Sinsido, my hometown of Gunsan was a place of natural beauty. I feel a great sense of responsibility to make Saemangeum, which is home to my friends and acquaintances, a place where nature and development are harmoniously balanced." He proposed a "two-pronged" strategy to enhance RE100 competitiveness by expanding seawater circulation and managing water quality through the addition of sluice gates to the Saemangeum seawall, and linking tidal power generation. "I want Saemangeum to immediately come to mind for the public when they think of RE100. Saemangeum has it all: renewable energy, industrial land, and even the West Coast Energy Expressway. I will devote all my efforts to enacting the 'RE100 Special Act' (tentative name)."

Commissioner Kim Uigyeom: ▲Born in 1963 ▲Gunsan Jeil High School ▲Korea University, Department of Law ▲Reporter for International, Political, and Social Affairs at Hankyoreh Newspaper ▲Head of Social Affairs, Political and Social Affairs Editor, Editorial Writer, and Senior Reporter at Hankyoreh Newspaper ▲Spokesperson for the Presidential Office under President Moon Jae-in ▲21st National Assembly Member ▲Member of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee ▲Member of the National Assembly Special Committee on Media System Reform ▲Member of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee ▲Spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea ▲Commissioner of the Saemangeum Development and Investment Agency