Myung Hyun-kwan: "Haenam Will Become the Heart of Korea's AI and Energy Capital"

Full-Scale Launch of the National AI Computing Center and RE100 Industrial Complex

Haenam County in South Jeolla Province has presented its future vision as "The Capital of Rural Korea, Haenam," where future agriculture and fisheries are integrated with artificial intelligence (AI), energy, and advanced industries.

In his 2026 New Year's address, Haenam County Governor Myung Hyun-kwan stated, "Haenam will no longer be the land's end, but will stand at the heart of the Republic of Korea as the capital of AI and energy. With the spirit of 'pushing a running horse,' we will make history this year by creating Haenam as the rural capital where agriculture and fisheries are combined with AI and energy."

Haenam County postponed the New Year's opening ceremony by two days due to heavy snowfall, and all employees, including the county governor, began the new year’s work with snow removal operations. Provided by Haenam County

He emphasized, "Amidst the era of Korea becoming one of the top three AI powers and the great energy transition, Haenam will fulfill its national mission, and we will thoroughly prepare so that all county residents can share in the achievements and economic benefits."

According to Haenam County, this year will see the full-scale launch of the National AI Computing Center by the Samsung SDS consortium and the Hwawon Industrial Complex offshore wind power port project invested in by LS Group. In addition, the establishment of an RE100 national industrial complex and a global AI data center, both under the Special Act on Renewable Energy Self-Sufficient Cities, is expected to become visible.

The county plans to attract companies and create a residential town in Solaseado Corporate City, equipped with housing complexes, an international school, a hospital, and hotels, aiming to build a sustainable, future-oriented residential city with a population of 100,000.

Governor Myung stated, "Competition among local governments nationwide is fierce, but Haenam is almost the only place fully prepared to immediately implement the government's AI and energy transition initiatives. We will reorganize our administration to establish a dedicated department for attracting AI, energy, and advanced industry investments, and focus all our capabilities on this goal."

The county is also accelerating the expansion of infrastructure to spread the benefits of becoming the AI and energy capital throughout its territory. In line with the operation of the National AI Computing Center in 2028, the first phase of the four-lane road expansion between Haenam-eup and Masan~Sani will be completed, and the county is requesting that the government and South Jeolla Province allow the simultaneous implementation of the second phase. Once construction is finished, travel time from Haenam-eup to Solaseado is expected to be reduced to 18 minutes, or around 12 minutes if a dedicated road is established.

The county also plans to improve residential and educational conditions in the Haenam-eup area, establishing a foundation for people to "live and work in Haenam." In the energy sector, it will fully implement a resident-participatory energy profit-sharing system. Public-private councils have been launched in the Sani and Masan solar sharing cluster and the Sani Budong cluster, where discussions are underway to develop a resident-participatory profit structure.

In particular, the county will begin establishing a publicly led energy corporation and fund this year. With a structure in which county residents directly invest and profits are returned to the region, the county aims to usher in the "era of basic energy income."

The county also presented plans to create a world-class AI industrial ecosystem by integrating the National AI Computing Center, corporate AI data centers, and the RE100 national industrial complex, and to develop a new industrial city where AI, renewable energy, and advanced industries converge, in connection with the Hwawon Industrial Complex offshore wind power cluster.

In the agriculture and fisheries sector, starting this year with the groundbreaking for the National Agricultural Food Climate Change Response Center and the Carbon Neutral Education Center, the county will attract smart farms and corporate R&D facilities to the Haenam Agricultural Research Complex, creating a future agriculture platform that links research, verification, technology dissemination, and education.

Along with enhancing the brand value of the four main agricultural and marine products-rice, cabbage, sweet potatoes, and laver-the county will foster low-carbon agriculture, food tech, and the bio industry to establish a high-value-added agricultural and fisheries industry base, and will continue to promote policies to revitalize the local economy centered on the Haenam Love Gift Certificate.

In the tourism sector, the county will increase the living population through regional tourism development such as the Geumgangsan Riverside Park project and expanded sports marketing, while nurturing talent for local strategic industries through the expansion of youth rental housing and the educational development special zone project.

Governor Myung stated, "This year, the Year of the Red Horse, symbolizes challenge, leap forward, and vitality, much like Haenam's spirit of great advancement. I will ensure that the vision of Haenam as the capital of rural Korea is fully realized, so that all residents can enjoy its benefits, by carefully managing county administration from the residents' perspective."

Meanwhile, due to heavy snowfall, Haenam County postponed the opening ceremony for the new year to the afternoon, and all employees, including the county governor, began the new year’s work with snow removal operations.