Prime Minister Kim Min-seok declared that "advanced-technology-led growth, regional-led growth, and new innovative growth are all beginning in Saemangeum and North Jeolla Province," calling it "a moment of great historical significance."
At the kickoff meeting of the Saemangeum-North Jeolla Province Grand Innovation Task Force held at the Government Complex Seoul on the 11th, PM Kim stated that "Hyundai Motor's 9 trillion won investment marks the start of future ultra-modernization for North Jeolla Province and South Korea."
The TF meeting was organized following Hyundai Motor Group's signing of a memorandum of understanding on January 27 with the Saemangeum Development and Investment Agency to invest approximately 9 trillion won in future industries including hydrogen energy, artificial intelligence data centers, and robotics in the Saemangeum region.
"We will designate officials in charge of the Saemangeum-North Jeolla Grand Innovation TF not only in North Jeolla Province and the Saemangeum Development Agency but also in each government ministry to push forward at maximum speed," PM Kim said.
He urged officials to "swiftly establish a comprehensive grand innovation support plan through the TF that manages Saemangeum development, Hyundai Motor's investment, and North Jeolla's infrastructure, so that implementation can begin as early as May for items that are ready."
The meeting included listening to corporate requests for rapid execution of the Hyundai Motor investment project and discussions on specific support measures going forward. The government plans to use the TF to ensure smooth implementation of the Hyundai Motor project, positioning Saemangeum as a representative innovation model for decentralization beyond just the North Jeolla region.
