Moon Shin-hak, vice minister of Trade, Industry and Energy [Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy]
Moon Shin-hak, vice minister of Trade, Industry and Energy [Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy]

Central government agencies, local governments, businesses and institutions have joined forces to lay out a blueprint for the "5-pole, 3-special" growth engine initiative.

The strategy aims to move beyond the current single-hub structure centered on Greater Seoul by reorganizing the country into five broad regional blocs — Greater Seoul, the Southeast, the Daegu-North Gyeongsang, the Central and the Honam regions — alongside three special autonomous provinces: Gangwon Province, North Jeolla Province and Jeju.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held the "5-Pole, 3-Special Growth Engine Strategy Forum" in Gwangju on Wednesday, hosted by Vice Minister Moon Shin-hak, with about 100 participants from local governments, regional anchor companies and innovation institutions at the Gwangju AI Industry Convergence Agency.

The forum was organized to discuss regional industrial conditions and future growth potential based on the industries each area hopes to develop.

Starting with Wednesday's forum covering the southwestern region, the ministry plans to tour all regions outside Greater Seoul to gather input — visiting Jeju on June 19, the Central region on June 23, the Daegu-North Gyeongsang region on June 24, North Jeolla Province on June 26, Gangwon Province on June 29 and the Southeast region on June 30.

The forum featured expert presentations and panel discussions on the current state of industry in the Gwangju and South Jeolla Province area and the direction for its development.

Kim Hee-sam, executive director at Kia, said the company "plans to continue investing in the Gwangju factory in connection with the growth engine initiative." He added that "policy and fiscal support from the government is needed to strengthen the automotive industry ecosystem in the southwestern region."

Kim Young-moon, vice mayor for culture and economy of Gwangju, said the city would "continue to strengthen communication and cooperation between the central and local governments for the success of the 5-pole, 3-special growth engine."

Vice Minister Moon said Wednesday's forum marks "the starting point for transforming South Korea's industrial map of economic growth into a multipolar system under the 5-pole, 3-special framework," pledging to "mobilize every available policy tool to help each region build its own independent industrial ecosystem."


oskymoon@heraldcorp.com