South Chungcheong Province will be reborn as "South Chungcheong, Korea's AI Capital," built upon the values of loyalty, filial piety, and courtesy.
The "Connected Chungnam" Preparatory Committee held a residents' report meeting on the 15th at the KAIST Mobility Research Center in Naepo New Town, unveiling the vision for the ninth popularly elected administration along with seven goals, 21 strategies, and 201 provincial tasks.
Under the ninth administration's vision of "Connected Chungnam, Together with Residents," the committee set seven goals: Chungnam Together with Residents, Korea's AI Capital, a Dynamic Innovation Economy, a Warm Life Together, a Safe and Pleasant Home, a Clean Future for Rural and Fishing Communities, and a Prosperous and Healthy Society.
The 21 strategies include an open administration of participation and communication, restoration of local communities, administrative integration of South Chungcheong and Daejeon, AI industry innovation, warm AI that transforms residents' lives, realization of an AI local government, an industrial renaissance leaping forward through innovation, a vibrant local economy, creation of workplaces where everyone is respected, creation of an environment favorable for having and raising children, a social safety net that provides more robust protection, and the establishment of a quality local medical system.
Also included in the strategies are the creation of a seamless safety ecosystem, the establishment of infrastructure connecting sky, land, and sea, balanced development in which regions grow evenly, leadership in responding to the climate crisis and achieving carbon neutrality, fostering sustainable future agriculture, attractive and vibrant marine growth, revitalization of the local economy through history, culture, and tourism, creation of cultural, artistic, and sports conditions that enrich daily life, and the creation of a water, air, and soil environment that coexists with nature.
For its five regional strategies, the committee proposed: leading AI advanced industries in Cheonan, Asan, Dangjin, and Seosan; marine tourism and an energy transition in Boryeong, Seocheon, and Taean; the center of South Chungcheong's administration in Hongseong and Yesan; the center of the historical and cultural sphere in Gongju, Buyeo, and Cheongyang; and the center of defense administration and high-value-added agriculture in Nonsan, Gyeryong, and Geumsan.
The transition committee selected 201 provincial tasks to achieve these goals, including 101 pledges and 100 priority tasks.
Major tasks include operating an open governor's office, promoting a campaign to cultivate the Chungcheong spirit, innovating structures to improve AI processes, nurturing AI transformation (AX) talent, expanding Chungnam-style life-cycle AI education, bidding to host a UN AI Hub, developing an AI Basic Society Index, establishing a research and demonstration base for eco-friendly AI mobility, fostering glocal and promising alleyway commercial districts, expanding support for the re-establishment of small businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises, expanding childcare facilities for infants and toddlers, establishing a National Institute of Dental Medicine in Cheonan, promoting a climate insurance pilot project, promoting the construction of a central region east-west cross railway, promptly advancing a metropolitan multi-modal transfer center at KTX Cheonan-Asan Station, creating a South Chungcheong climate response fund, expanding basic income for rural and fishing communities, creating a West Coast marine ecology and culture tourism belt, building a K-culture convergence arena, and promoting an ecological restoration project for Bunam Lake.
In addition, the committee confirmed 10 promises to transform South Chungcheong anew: promoting administrative integration of South Chungcheong and Daejeon; building future AI (public and private) data centers by region in South Chungcheong; creating a South Chungcheong AI Transformation Growth Fund; developing a national industrial complex on the site relocated from the breeding farm; promoting a just transition together with workers and local residents; establishing a regional emergency medical delivery system for high-risk mothers and newborns; promoting the construction of a central region east-west cross railway; completing the South Chungcheong Innovation City by attracting public institutions; expanding basic income for rural and fishing communities; and fostering stay-type tourism to revitalize the night economy.
The provincial tasks presented by the Connected Chungnam Preparatory Committee will be used as the ninth administration's pledge projects and the basic direction for major policy implementation.
Lee Jae-kwan, chairman of the transition committee, said, "Along with follow-up management of the provincial tasks, we will ensure that the results of pledge inspections and evaluations are transparently disclosed to residents through the province's website."
South Chungcheong Governor Park Soo-hyun stressed, "We will create, together with residents, a Connected Chungnam in which residents' voices serve as the starting point of provincial administration."
