Seven Consecutive Years of Top Ratings for Pledge Fulfillment and Integrity
“RE100 Supply” Attracts Interest from Companies Like Samsung SDS and OpenAI
Concerns Over 12 Years of Long-Term Rule vs. Calls for “Tying Up Loose Ends”
With just four months remaining until the local elections in June, Haenam County Governor Myeon Hyungwan has launched his campaign for a third term, emphasizing both “integrity” and “Solaseado.” Building on an impressive track record-seven consecutive years of top ratings for fulfilling campaign pledges and the county’s first-ever “Grade 1” in the Comprehensive Integrity Assessment-Haenam County, which has dispelled the shadows of past administrative distrust, is now preparing for a new leap forward.
According to the local political scene on the 28th, Governor Myeon is enjoying strong support and, following his successful re-election, is demonstrating a more solid leadership than ever, backed by seven consecutive years of top (SA) ratings for pledge fulfillment and the county’s first-ever “Grade 1” in the Comprehensive Integrity Assessment.
◆ “Three Principles” Administration Wipes Out “Corrupt Local Government” Stigma... First Grade 1 Integrity Rating in 23 Years
Before Governor Myeon took office, Haenam was mired in a swamp of “administrative distrust.” Successive county governors had been punished, which demoralized the public sector and deeply wounded residents’ pride.
Upon taking office, Governor Myeon put forward the so-called “three principles”-fairness, justice, and transparency. The results were clear. In the 2025 Comprehensive Integrity Assessment by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, Haenam County achieved the highest Grade 1 rating for the first time in the 23 years since the system was introduced. This was the result of maintaining Grade 2 for five consecutive years since the launch of the seventh popularly elected administration and building a strong foundation.
Haenam also recorded the highest (SA) rating for pledge fulfillment for seven consecutive years in the evaluation by the Korea Manifesto Center, demonstrating both “administrative continuity” and “trust.” The successful launch of the Haenam Love Gift Certificate and the attraction of the Agricultural and Food Climate Change Response Center show that Governor Myeon is not just an administrator, but a strategist capable of delivering real economic value.
◆ “RE100 Energy Capital” Drawing Attention from Samsung and OpenAI... Solaseado as the Biggest Game Changer
The core slogan of Governor Myeon’s bid for a third term is “Tie up loose ends.” It reflects his determination to personally reap the benefits of the seeds of future industries he has sown. The greatest strength secured through the Solaseado corporate city project is the practical realization of “RE100” (100% renewable energy).
There is a clear reason why global IT companies such as Samsung SDS and OpenAI (Sam Altman) are now turning their attention to Haenam. In an era where carbon neutrality is essential for corporate survival, Haenam is the only location in Korea where companies can directly access “affordable renewable energy” linked to the nation’s largest solar power plant.
The “local production-local consumption” electricity rate system, which saves on long-distance transmission costs through designation as a distributed energy special zone, gives Haenam an overwhelming advantage over neighboring local governments like Mokpo and Yeongam. With an expected economic ripple effect of several trillion won annually and the creation of tens of thousands of jobs, this is being positioned as the strongest “performance asset” for the third-term campaign.
For companies, the integrity of the local government leader is the greatest incentive for reducing business uncertainty, and this serves as a powerful, invisible weapon in the competition to attract companies to Solaseado corporate city.
◆ “Straw Effect” from Mokpo and Yeongam, “Basic” Rating in Local Extinction Fund... The Biggest Challenge on the Road to a Third Term
However, behind the rosy outlook lies deep concern about the “straw effect,” where population is siphoned off to nearby areas like Namak New Town in Mokpo and Daebul Industrial Complex in Yeongam. As road networks expand, Haenam increasingly serves only as a production base, while high-income professionals are likely to choose to live in neighboring cities with better infrastructure.
Additionally, in the 2026 Local Extinction Response Fund assessment, neighboring Wando County and Hwasun County received excellent ratings and each secured an additional 12 billion won in funding, while Goheung, Yeongam, and Shinan counties received S ratings and ranked among the top. This has led to calls for Haenam County to strengthen its population policies.
Unlike the large-scale achievements of Solaseado, there is analysis that the county’s population policies-especially those closely tied to the daily lives of residents in its 14 towns and villages-have been somewhat lacking.
Local residents have also expressed feelings of alienation, saying, “It feels like a distant issue for our neighborhood.” This indicates that the success in attracting industrial complexes has not translated into tangible population inflows or improvements in living conditions at the town and village level.
◆ Breaking Through the “Generational Shift” Theory with “Haenam-Style Balanced Development”... The Next Four Months Are Critical
In response, Governor Myeon has put forward the strategy of creating a “differentiated residential environment unique to Haenam.” His plan is to retain the population within Haenam by launching the “Solaseado First Village” in 2026, attracting an international school, and establishing a general hospital-level medical infrastructure. By providing a high-quality education and medical environment that surpasses the ordinary residential areas of Yeongam and Mokpo, he aims to prevent the outflow of young people. He has expressed his intention to connect the achievements of Solaseado to the overall development of Haenam County.
A local political insider commented, “Everyone acknowledges Governor Myeon’s capabilities, but the key issue is how he will overcome the psychological resistance to 12 years of long-term rule.” In fact, rival candidates are pressing him with calls for “administrative renewal” and “personnel reform.”
Governor Myeon is expected to counter this with “seasoned innovation.” His strategy is to offset voter fatigue with practical policies that resonate with all generations, such as digital administration targeting young people and 24-hour welfare services for seniors.
Governor Myeon Hyungwan’s bid for a third term will be a turning point that determines whether Haenam becomes a “cutting-edge industrial city” or remains a “stagnant rural area.” While there is no doubt that he has elevated the quality of Haenam’s administration, the final hurdle on the road to a third term is not “past integrity” but “future survival.”
All eyes in Haenam are now on Governor Myeon’s actions over the next four months: whether he can overcome the strong population pull of Mokpo and Yeongam, firmly establish Solaseado as Korea’s true “AI and energy capital,” and move beyond mere statistical achievements to deliver “genuine communication” that permeates the lives of residents.
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