“Planted Seeds in Fertile Soil” ... South Chungcheong Province Aims to Soar as an “AI Capital and Healing Hub”

[Financial News, Hongseong = Kim Won-jun] Marking 100 days in office in the ninth popularly elected term, South Chungcheong Governor Park Soo-hyun described his work to date as “yangjongokjeon,” meaning a time to plant good seeds in fertile soil, and unveiled a plan to make the province South Korea’s “artificial intelligence (AI) capital” and “second metropolitan region.”
At a press conference marking his 100th day in office, held in the main conference room of the provincial government headquarters on the 12th, Park said, “The past 100 days have been an intense period of diagnosing South Chungcheong’s long-standing challenges and strengthening communication with residents. Having selected sturdy seeds and prepared fertile soil, I will lead provincial administration with unshakable perseverance and press ahead without wavering.”
Park cited the establishment of an unprecedented communications system and improvements to public healthcare as key achievements of his first 100 days. He said he had strengthened field-based administration by making the launch of the “Governor’s Office for Open Communication” his first approval after taking office and responding directly to residents’ suggestions through “Chungnam Tonghaeng.”
He also pledged to develop measures to standardize public healthcare services by November, based on the results of public forums that explored structural problems at four regional medical centers in Cheonan, Gongju, Seosan and Hongseong.
He also fleshed out his vision of making the province “South Korea’s AI capital” to create future growth engines.
South Chungcheong Province has supported high-tech megaprojects worth a total of 202 trillion won and brought forward the start of construction at Samsung Electronics’ Onyang Campus by one month. Construction on Samsung Asan Display City 2, which had been suspended for five years, is set to resume next year.
The province also secured a total of 1.5303 trillion won in investment from 27 companies across eight cities and counties, including 1.2405 trillion won for an AI data center in Dangjin. Park stressed that the province would pursue an AI transformation (AX) tailored to South Chungcheong, connecting AI across industry, welfare and administration through “three-power innovation” in electricity, hydropower and human resources.
Plans for super-regional cooperation across the Chungcheong region and balanced regional development were also presented. Park said he would address major issues through the Chungcheong Regional Union, develop the area around KTX Gongju Station, and attract 50 public institutions to complete South Chungcheong Innovation City, promoting balanced growth across all 15 cities and counties.
As competition with other local governments to attract 50 public institutions and complete South Chungcheong Innovation City intensifies, the provision of tangible incentives is expected to be key. Analysts say that living conditions in the innovation city must improve and education and healthcare infrastructure for public institution employees must be expanded quickly for the effort to bring significant population inflows and boost the local economy.
Park also outlined a plan to combine the clean natural environment of the west coast with Baekje historical and cultural resources to create a “comprehensive healing hub” for 25 million residents of the capital region.
“I will build a sturdy home on a blueprint validated through our manifesto, where residents can feel the changes,” Park said. “Looking beyond the ninth popularly elected term, I will move forward humbly yet boldly to lay the foundations for the next 100 years of South Chungcheong and South Korea.”

[email protected] Kim Won-jun Reporter