Yoon says Gangwon's new self-governing status will empower province

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Yoon says Gangwon's new self-governing status will empower province

President Yoon Suk Yeol and Gangwon Gov. Kim Jin-tae, center, stand on the stage of a ceremony held on Friday at Kangwon National University in Chuncheon, Gangwon, marking the launch of the province's special self-governing status. [YONHAP]

President Yoon Suk Yeol and Gangwon Gov. Kim Jin-tae, center, stand on the stage of a ceremony held on Friday at Kangwon National University in Chuncheon, Gangwon, marking the launch of the province's special self-governing status. [YONHAP]

 
President Yoon Suk Yeol attended a ceremony on Friday marking Gangwon's new status as a special self-governing province, which he said would empower the region to cut red tape and develop its local industries.
 
The ceremony at Kangwon National University, located in the provincial capital Chuncheon, took place two days before the province attains its new status, which was passed by law last June. 
 
With its new status, Gangwon Province gains the autonomy to ease regulations set by the central government in the forestry, environment, agriculture and defense sectors. 
 
Gangwon is the third region to be granted self-governing status, following Jeju in 2006 and Sejong in 2012.
 
During his remarks, Yoon said Gangwon's newfound autonomy will allow the province "to boost cutting-edge and tourism industries by removing the obstacles to development by itself," which he attributed to "unnecessary multilayered regulations due to reasons of national security and the environment."  
 
The ceremony was attended by approximately 1,600 people, including Gangwon Gov. Kim Jin-tae and lawmakers representing the province's eight parliamentary constituencies. 
 
Yoon pledged that the central government would lend "active support and massive assistance" to the province's plan to develop a "future industry global city" within the region.
 
Gangneung, located on Gangwon's eastern coast, has been floated as a potential site for a national bio-industrial complex, while the inland city of Taebaek has been designated as a special regulation-free zone for the production of hydrogen energy using forest biomass. 
 
"Gangwon Province, with its splendid natural environment and abundant resources, will now develop dramatically based on cutting-edge science technologies," Yoon said. 
 
Recent months have proven to be a rocky time for the province, which saw a massive wildfire in Gangneung in April reducing 379 hectares (936 acres) to ashes and a default in project financing for a Legoland amusement park in Chuncheon. 
 
In an interview with the Korea Joongang Daily in March, Gov. Kim said he hopes various events scheduled to be held in Gangwon in the coming months will promote the region's international stature. 
 
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, while 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. 

BY MICHAEL LEE [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]
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