Artificial Sun Research Facility in Naju Wins Top Honor
Outstanding Policies Include Designation as Specialized Distributed Energy Zone
Jeonnam Province announced on December 20 that it has selected the "Attraction of the Artificial Sun Research Facility to Naju, Jeonnam" as one of the TOP 10 Policies of the Year that illuminated Jeonnam.
The TOP 10 Policies of the Year were finalized through a two-step review process: an initial written evaluation by internal staff of 30 major initiatives promoted by the province throughout the year, followed by a second in-person review by experts from academia, the media, and research institutes.
As a result of the evaluation, the top honor went to the attraction of the Artificial Sun Research Facility to Naju, Jeonnam. The excellent policies included: designation of all of Jeonnam as a specialized distributed energy zone, positioning the province as a game changer in Korea's energy sector; realizing Jeonnam as the AI capital through an AI transformation; selection of Jeonnam’s core AI-era SOC project worth 3.4 trillion won as a preliminary feasibility study target; and increasing farm income by 250 billion won through partnerships with major corporations and franchises. Five policies were selected as encouragement awards, including the development of a new seaweed activation agent, a first among local governments nationwide and a long-awaited wish of fishers for 40 years, and the unceasing challenge to reach the world beyond the Asia-Pacific.
The attraction of the Artificial Sun Research Facility to Naju, Jeonnam is the result of Jeonnam Province’s persistent efforts to secure a leading position in future science and technology.
Starting with the declaration of the Blue Economy Vision in 2019, Jeonnam Province proactively responded to government calls by leveraging milestones such as attracting the Korea Institute of Energy Technology in 2019, bidding to host a synchrotron accelerator in 2020, and attracting a superconducting test facility in 2022.
As a result, in line with the "Korea Energy Capital" strategy, the province succeeded in attracting the Artificial Sun Research Facility, a project worth 1.2 trillion won, marking a major achievement and earning the top policy award.
The designation of all of Jeonnam as a specialized distributed energy zone, positioning the province as a game changer in Korea's energy sector, reaffirmed Jeonnam’s status as the core region for the government’s renewable energy transformation.
Jeonnam, covering 12,363 km², was designated as the nation’s first and largest distributed energy special zone. This designation allows for reduced electricity rates and regulatory exemptions, enabling the development of new energy industries such as microgrids (MG), virtual power plants (VPP), and demand response (DR).
The introduction of lower electricity rates is expected to greatly facilitate the attraction of energy-intensive high-tech companies such as AI data centers, semiconductors, and secondary batteries. The special zone designation has been recognized as a key policy that transforms Jeonnam from a "land of opportunity" into a "land of gold."
The policy of realizing Jeonnam as the AI capital through an AI transformation involved establishing AI infrastructure to make Jeonnam the AI hub of the Asia-Pacific region, including confirmation of the establishment of a 20MW class joint global data center by OpenAI and SK in Jeonnam, attracting the National AI Computing Center, and breaking ground for Jeonnam’s first Jangseong Pine Data Center. This policy has been evaluated as a historic turning point that shifted Korea’s AI industry hub to Jeonnam, the result of Jeonnam Province’s ongoing and strategic efforts since the 2019 Blue Economy declaration, targeting the National Assembly, central government agencies, and global AI companies.
The selection of Jeonnam’s core AI-era SOC project worth 3.4 trillion won as a preliminary feasibility study target is the result of the province’s continued efforts to build essential infrastructure for the next 100 years. The project, covering 230.9 km across 20 districts and totaling 3.4 trillion won, was selected as a preliminary feasibility study target.
Notably, among 195 projects nationwide considered for a preliminary feasibility study, Jeonnam’s project was the only one to be selected for the expedited process and reflected in the 5th National Plan. This achievement resulted from Jeonnam’s proactive engagement with national planning, strong advocacy of the project’s feasibility to central ministries, and strategic promotional activities.
The policy of increasing farm income by 250 billion won through partnerships with major corporations and franchises involved building a cooperative system using Saecheongmu rice, the region’s representative variety, and securing stable markets, which contributed greatly to stabilizing rice supply and demand and created an economic effect totaling 250 billion won.
Yoon Jin-ho, Director of Planning and Coordination for Jeonnam Province, stated, "We selected excellent policies focusing on those that residents can quickly feel, have clear effects, and provide widespread benefits."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
