New governor outlines five priorities pairing advanced technology with tourism
Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Governor Woo Sang-ho was inaugurated Tuesday at the Baengnyeong Arts Center of Kangwon National University, where he laid out five core policy priorities aimed at blending the province's natural environment with advanced technology.
The priorities for the ninth directly elected provincial administration include attracting high-tech companies powered by clean energy sources such as water, wind and solar; expanding youth employment and housing stability to build a "Gangwon where young people can dream"; and fostering emerging industries — biotech, AI-driven healthcare, data and drones — to drive balanced regional development.
Administrative support for attracting high-tech companies was recorded as Woo's first official approval as governor.
That first approval confirmed a plan to establish a task force for the AI data center project being invested in by SK Group and GS Group. The task force officially launched Tuesday. The move signals that Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province is moving with maximum speed to support an investment of around 100 trillion won ($64.6 billion).
In his inaugural address, Woo described Gangwon as a place where the future is being reborn, and pledged to repay the province's long history of sacrifice for national security and economic growth with tangible improvements in residents' lives.
"By linking the East Sea coast with the inland mountain areas to create world-class trekking routes and rest destinations, I will draw a new map for the tourism industry — one that makes Gangwon the Switzerland of Asia," Woo said.
He also said he would transform the border region into a land of opportunity and hope by establishing a peace economy special zone and converting the DMZ area into an ecological and peace asset, "making Gangwon a place where peace becomes the economy."
"I will walk every one of these paths with my eyes fixed solely on the residents," Woo said. "I will be out in the field to ensure the results of this administration translate into smiles for young people and income for farmers and fishermen." He pledged to work hand in hand with the provincial assembly and all 18 cities and counties to achieve Gangwon's leap forward.
The task force dedicated to securing the AI data center project launched with one director, two teams and 10 staff members. Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province was officially named a key candidate site for an AI data center under the central government's "Three Mega-Projects for Korea's Great Leap Forward," announced June 29 at a presidential briefing.
Under the plan, SK Group and GS Group will pursue development of an AI data center in the Gangwon region with a capacity of up to 4.4 gigawatts — the largest scale assigned to any single metropolitan or provincial government in the country. The task force will be responsible for fast-tracking permits and providing one-stop administrative support.
The launch marks the first concrete step in fulfilling Governor Woo's top campaign pledge — attracting an AI data center — and his broader commitment to developing Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province into a national hub for the AI industry, systematically building an AI ecosystem and achieving balanced regional development.
The task force plans to establish a fast-track permitting system and one-stop administrative support framework to provide close assistance throughout the entire process, from attracting AI data center companies to building out AI infrastructure. It is expected to be converted into a permanent organizational unit through a restructuring later this year.
The province's proactive moves align with its official designation June 29 as a key candidate site for an AI data center at a presidential briefing on the government's three mega-projects. SK Group and GS Group plan to develop an AI data center in the Gangwon region with a capacity of up to 4.4 gigawatts — the largest footprint assigned to any single metropolitan or provincial government nationwide.
Gangwon has drawn attention as a prime AI data center location because of its large-scale power infrastructure built around existing power plants, vast and affordable industrial land, and abundant water resources — including rivers and seawater — that can be used for cooling.
"Being officially designated as the core site for an AI data center in a national mega-project is the starting gun for a great economic transformation in Gangwon," Woo said. "By launching a dedicated task force even before the national announcement, we will concentrate every resource of this administration to secure a new growth engine for Gangwon and lead the country's AI policy."
abc@heraldcorp.com
