After rigorously analyzing campaign pledges and on-the-ground conditions over two to three months of electioneering, Gangwon Province Gov. Woo Sang-ho has set out a governing vision built on three pillars: making the province's pristine natural environment an engine of growth, giving young people a place to pursue their ambitions, and turning peace into an economic asset. The administration has finalized five strategic priorities and 80 detailed tasks to carry that vision forward.
The first strategic pillar, clean-resource-based innovation and growth, encompasses a food-convergence industry cluster; a forest economy industrial belt; consolidation of forest-product processing and distribution centers; activation of the HAPPY700 Pyeongchang green biotech initiative; development of a deep-sea water convergence industry cluster; a clean energy highway (a priority task); a water-and-light energy lake belt; advancement of an AI-based natural-substance biotech industry; and establishment of a national natural-substance biotech industrial complex.
The second pillar, building cities where people want to settle and thrive, covers the Dumuri Pass Tunnel; the Gwangdeok Tunnel; the Yongmun–Hongcheon railway; early ground-breaking on the east-west expressway (Yeongwol–Samcheok); extension of the Sokcho–Goseong expressway; accelerated development of the Pocheon–Cheorwon expressway; construction of an integrated transport network; expansion of eco-friendly public transit; early incorporation of social overhead capital projects into statutory plans; creation of a local industry-academia cooperation ecosystem; a civil-military co-prosperity welfare cycle; establishment of a foreign educational institution; founding of Gangwon-tailored specialized high schools; building an integrated regional essential public healthcare system; significant expansion of community sports facilities; strengthened integrated care for children and youth; expanded supply of public rental housing centered on young people (a priority task); strengthened integrated care for the elderly; promotion of social participation by people with disabilities; expansion of special transport services for people with disabilities; activation of the social solidarity economy and village communities; promotion of women's social participation; guaranteeing workers' safety and rights; support for small business owners and the self-employed along with a stronger social safety net; development of a retirement village; gradual expansion of a basic income for farming, mountain and fishing communities; creation of a mixed-use cultural hub on the livestock station site; establishment of a pet-friendly culture; and citizen-participatory urban regeneration in original downtown areas.
The third pillar, nurturing Gangwon-style strategic industries, includes development of a biotech and medical AI transformation (AX) industry; attraction of AI data centers (a priority task); establishment of a global industrial trade organization; a K-quantum biotech cluster; a biotech mega special zone; construction of a medical AI transformation (AX) industry cluster; a national antibody cluster; upgrading of the Bukpyeong industrial complex; development of Donghae Port and Mukho Port as marine economy hubs; an advanced smart farm complex in coal-industry transition areas; a future energy cluster covering clean methanol and mineral industries; a future energy cluster for coal shale; development of a liquefied hydrogen industry cluster; strengthening of a national strategic asset critical minerals industrialization hub; activation of the Daepо agricultural-industrial complex; advancement of future mobility industries; support for installing solar panels on livestock barn rooftops; and conversion of livestock manure into resources.
The fourth pillar, promoting global stay-and-experience tourism, covers a four-season tourism and leisure complex; development of Sokcho Port as a premium tourism and logistics hub; support for activating Yangyang Airport and international tourism; a world-class trekking course; development of a forest wellness tourism complex; reorganization of East Sea coastal fish markets; accelerated implementation of the Jangho Port fishing village revitalization project; a world-class mixed-use tourism complex; operation of marine healing programs and construction of a marine healing center; development of the Donggang River as an ecology, history, recreation and experience tourism belt; creation of a Winter Olympics legacy sports and tourism complex; activation of humanities and heritage tourism; a workcation city; development of a lake garden and support for its designation as a national garden; creation of a culture and arts theme town; Gangwon-specific branding using idle spaces in older downtown areas; development and distribution of "Gangwon goods"; and removal of coastal wire fences and fence maintenance.
The fifth pillar, leading a peace economy, encompasses development of a defense drone education and demonstration special zone; a border-area peace economic special zone (a priority task); activation of demilitarized zone (DMZ) ecological peace tourism; a large-scale tourism complex at Jeongja-ri; a park golf hub; and support for developing local gardens and garden cities.
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