▲ South Jeolla Province / Governor Kim Yung-rok

(PowerKorea) South Jeolla Province aka Jeonnam is located at the southwestern tip of the Korean Peninsula. Under the leadership of the governor Kim Yung-rok and the slogan ‘Clean Jeonnam, Blue Economy’, the province is promoting 6 sectors that can bring prosperity to the residents: energy, tourism, bio, logistics, smart city and agricultural and marine products. The province built a development roadmap December last year for its 72 trillion won ($64 billion) worth 100 propelling future tasks. PowerKorea heard about the tasks of the province from the governor Kim Yung-rok in written interview.

Q. We learned offshore wind power is one of the highly promising growth engines in the region?
A. Carbone Neutrality 2050 is a global phenomenon. Among many alternative energy sources, offshore wind power is estimated to grow around 177GW by 2030. The province is to build a 8.2GW scale offshore wind power plant by pouring 48.5 trillion won by 2030 and it will invite 450 businesses and create 120,000 jobs. Residents will have share and receive the earnings as ‘offshore wind power pension’. We expect the plant will be the largest scale in the field in the world and we will initiate the first phase groundbreaking within this year. 

Q. How is Korea Institute of Energy Technology is going?
A. South Korea is around 4 years behind of advanced countries in energy industry. In other words, we need to make bold investments in research and development. Korea Institute of Energy Technology will serve as the nation’s first public university specialized in fostering global level talent in the field. We will list the university in the world’s top 10 technology institutes in electricity and energy within 30 years. 400 degree and 600 graduate students will polish up their knowledge and skills in cooperation with 100 lecturers, professors and staff. For this, we will benchmark Cornel Tech and Olin College of Engineering in the US alongside other major tech colleges in the world.

Q, Do you have a solution to decreasing population in the region?
In fact, people leaving the province is not only our problem but all provinces except Seoul and the capital region. So the solution must be brought up in cooperation with the central government. As part of this effort, we and North Gyeongsang Province proposed Special Support Act on Local Extinction last year and the bill is pending in the National Assembly. 

Q. How will you recover economy in the province when the virus is contained?
A. Morea than 60 million people visited the province a year before the pandemic. So we are focusing on short term stay-overnight programs for the moment. As for the preparation of the post-pandemic, we are planning to increase number of rooms at hotels and holiday houses from 7,000 to 14,000 in total. We will also run various tour programs such as round trip and one month stay as well as Jeonnam Visit Year and J-TaaS, the app on which tourists can have all necessary tourism information in the province. It is very important for all tourist spots and accommodations to be immaculately clean and nice and we are working on that also.

Q. We learned Naro Space Center is in Goheung County?
A. South Korea succeeded the first phase fire test of Nuri March last year. If the launching of the Korean-type projectile succeeds October this year, South Korea will lay the springboard to jump into the 7th aerospace powerhouse in the world. In accordance with the government policy and projects, the province will also use the Naro Space Center in Goheung County to serve as an aerospace cluster where private-led research, development, testing and launching can be done at a single place. 

Q. Jeonnam is the first province among metropolitan council to declare Carbon Neutrality 2050?
A. Yes we declared it March 3 this year and we will bring forth its fruit 10 years before the set time of the UN. We expect to alter current energy source to 100% eco-friendly renewable energy through gradual closure of coal power plants until 2050. We will reduce air pollutants by 40% until 2024 and our 102 detailed tasks will reduce 92 million tons of greenhouse gas along the course. We will encourage residents to keep optimum indoor temperature and to use public transport and in return we pay back incentives as much as they have reduced carbon emission. 

Q. You are working on 2022 UN Climate Change Conference?
A. The conference is the largest scale international meeting that attracts 25,000 participants from 198 countries. 12 cities and counties along the southern coast of Korea are fiercely competing to invite the conference at the moment. No major international events such as PyeongChang 2018 has been held in the region and we have asked President Moon, former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yon and former People Power Party leader Kim Chong-in to give support. We joined hands with South Gyeongsang Provincial governor Kim Kyung-soo while 17 cities and provinces promised to give support. We expect to invite the conference if we prepare with utmost attention to detail.

Q. What is your plan for Japan’s discharge of radioactive water of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant?
A. We have expressed our deep concern over the discharge and asked Japan to withdraw the plan. We delivered our will to do everything we can if they are to discharge nevertheless. Meanwhile, we are strict on marine products imported from Japan and checking the level of radioactivity in local marine products collected in the southern coastline of Korea. The checking will take place from June this year starting at the farms in Yeosu, Goheung and Boseong. In addition, we are working together with Jeju, Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province. For this, we already have formed a task force.

Q. Lastly, would you like to say something to PowerKorea readers?
A. Everybody has gone through hard time over a year amidst the pandemic. But we’ve been dealing it with excellent cooperation. As vaccination is on the course, we expect a gradual recovery of the situation. I would like to say that Jeonna is scoring high in life satisfaction rate surveyed by Realmeter. There is a frame with words ‘Share Joy with People’ on the lobby of the provincial office building. I see it and read it every morning when I get into the lobby to start my work and make sure myself to do so with my best. I will keep working hard for our residents and for the people. 

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