Gangwon governor hopes to spread the potential of his province

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Gangwon governor hopes to spread the potential of his province

Published: 02 Mar. 2023, 17:59 Updated: 02 Mar. 2023, 18:27

Gangwon Gov. Kim Jin-tae has big plans to put his home province under the global spotlight this year. [PARK SANG-MOON]

CHUNCHEON, Gangwon — With a majestic landscape of mountains and forests, sandy beaches, fresh seafood, winter skiing and summer surfboarding, the list goes on for why Korea's northeastern province of Gangwon is worth a visit any time of the year.

Kim Jin-tae, a Chuncheon-born former lawmaker who became governor of his home province last July, hopes to get that message across to an increasing number of foreigners traveling to Korea, especially ahead of several major international events that Gangwon will host.

The 12th World Choir Games, known as the world’s largest international choir competition, will be held in Gangneung for 11 days from July 3. The Gangwon Forestry Exhibition 2023 is scheduled to be held for a month from Sept. 22 in various locations across the province, including Goseong County, featuring forest-themed exhibitions, concerts and hands-on woodworking programs.

The 2024 Winter Youth Olympics will kick off on Jan. 19, 2024, and last for two weeks in Gangneung and three other counties, six years after the province hosted the Winter Olympics.

“It’s an opportunity to promote Gangwon on a global scale,” Kim said during a recent interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily in his office in Chuncheon, the capital of the province.

“Particularly with the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics, we expect some 650,000 tourists to visit the province, directly generating 180 billion won [$138 million] worth of economic benefits.”

During the interview, conducted by Cheong Chul-gun, the paper’s CEO, Kim discussed his plans for Gangwon and how he envisions the province playing a center role in emerging industries going forward.

The following are excerpts from that conversation, edited for clarity.

Q. What are some key projects Gangwon will be carrying out in 2023?
A. Gangwon’s top priority this year is its transition to a so-called special self-governing province, which will provide us with the autonomy we need in policy decisions. Once we become a special self-governing province in June, we will essentially be able to carve out our own path and decide what’s best for us without being shackled to regulations [set by the central government]. To ensure that the new status leads to tangible changes, the Gangwon Provincial Government will ceaselessly try to make legal amendments along the way. By becoming a special self-governing province and boldly innovating Gangwon’s regulation system, we hope to lay the groundwork for becoming a global province with emerging industries.

Gangwon Gov. Kim, far left, and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Bo-gyoon, far right, pose with Olympic shooting champion Jin Jong-oh, second from left, and Olympic speed skating champion Lee Sang-hwa during a ceremony in Seoul on Feb. 21, celebrating the launch of the second organizing committee for the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics after the gold medalists were appointed co-heads of the committee. [GANGWON PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT]

What part of being a special self-governing province do you look forward to the most?
Innovating the regulation system and decentralization of power. I look forward to easing provincial regulations regarding the military, agriculture, environment and forestry. I also can’t wait to lift industrial regulations that have been restricting corporate investments. Decentralization of power is about gaining control over various types of regulations and having the authority to independently push ahead with policies that would improve the province. Local government offices know their local areas much more than the central government, which is why transferring power to them is a better way to seek local development. It’s time to abandon the stereotype that local government offices are unreliable.

At a time when international travel is picking up momentum all over the world, how is Gangwon planning to attract more tourists this year?
Korea’s lifting of the indoor mask mandate came three years after the policy was imposed. But when it comes to tourism, I think it’s a double-edged sword. The good thing is that Korea would be seeing more international tourists. The bad thing is that more Koreans would be leaving the country to travel abroad. Overall, Gangwon had a successful winter, with festivals held during the last season attracting more than 2.2 million people. We’re hoping to keep up the pace in spring, when 20 festivals will be held, including the April cherry blossom festivals in Gangneung and Sokcho. The number of tourists to Gangwon last year actually surpassed pre-pandemic levels, and we’re now hoping to take things further. By 2025, it’s our goal to attract 200 million annual visitors, create five key tourism zones and grow the residential population to 2 million.

Performers take the stage at Gyeongpo Beach in Gangneung, Gangwon, on July 4, 2022, during an event one year ahead of the 12th World Choir Games, which is scheduled to be held in Gangneung. [GANGWON PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT]

How are preparations for the 12th World Choir Games coming along?
Eighty-three overseas teams and 39 domestic teams have signed up, bringing the total to 122 teams. Overseas applications closed at the end of January and domestic applications were received till the end of February. To promote the 12th World Choir Games, we are holding a separate choir competition in various cities including Seoul and Busan until late April, where some 200 to 300 teams are expected to compete for prizes, which include discounts to participate in the 12th World Choir Games.

Other than the 12th World Choir Games, Gangwon will also be hosting the Gangwon Forestry Exhibition 2023 and the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics. What meanings do these international events have for Gangwon?
I think it goes to show that Gangwon has what it takes to become a global province with emerging industries. All three events are a great opportunity to promote Gangwon on a global scale. Hosting the 12th World Choir Games will show the world Gangwon’s cultural pride and Korea’s competence as a cultural powerhouse. The Gangwon Forestry Exhibition 2023 will be held in autumn so that it won’t be affected by the wildfires that usually break out in Goseong County every spring. The 2024 Winter Youth Olympics is the only international sports event scheduled during President Yoon Suk Yeol’s term [which lasts through 2027]. Nearly 1,900 athletes from 70 different countries will gather to compete in 15 disciplines across seven sports, with 81 sets of medals to be awarded.

An artist’s rendition of the Gangwon Forestry Exhibition 2023, set to kick off on Sept. 22 mainly in Goseong County, Gangwon. [GANGWON PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT]

The Legoland crisis rocked the bond market last year. What does the future hold for the theme park?
We’re solving each issue one at a time. We fully repaid the 205 billion won debt last year and paid Dongbu Corporation 13.5 billion won for construction costs on the foundation work. Ever since the Gangwon Jungdo Development Corporation [GJC] changed its CEO, it has been trying to normalize the management of the company. The Gangwon Provincial Government plans to do whatever it can to make GJC repay the province 205 billion won. Aside from that, the provincial government will proceed step by step on the project to build a tour site outside Legoland, which is now an empty field.

What would you like to accomplish during the remainder of your term as governor of Gangwon?
I hope to see the special self-governing province of Gangwon launch successfully and settle down, free of regulations. Later, when people think of my time as governor, I hope they remember it as a period when the population and the gross regional domestic product began to grow in the province. It’s my dream to lay the groundwork for increasing the population to 2 million residents and the gross regional domestic product to 1 trillion won, and improving transportation systems between the province and Seoul metropolitan area.

BY LEE SUNG-EUN [lee.sungeun@joongang.co.kr]