South Chungcheong Governor Park Soo-hyun pitches the province as an “AI capital” in the US ... signs investment agreements with three global companies

[Financial News, Hongseong = Kim Won-jun, reporter] Chungcheongnam-do is setting out to sign large-scale investment agreements with global companies, build cooperation networks with AI innovation institutions, and help local small and medium-sized enterprises enter overseas markets.
 Chungcheongnam-do said Governor Park Soo-hyun had departed for a business trip to the United States from the 25th to the 29th, on a five-day, three-night itinerary.
 Governor Park will depart on the 25th and visit the New Jersey AI Hub at Princeton University in New Jersey the following day, the 26th (local time). Launched in March last year, the hub is an integrated platform for AI research, startups, industry, and talent development. Princeton University, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Microsoft, and CoreWeave are among its key partners. After touring the main facilities and hearing from officials about its operations and business support system, Governor Park will explore ways to cooperate in realizing the “AI Basic Society” being pursued by the province.
 He will then visit United Nations Headquarters and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations to meet Haoliang Xu, UNDP Associate Administrator, and Ji-hoon Cha, ambassador to the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations. He plans to hear about trends in international politics and the economy, as well as AI-related policies and projects, and to explore ways to connect with the UN’s AI initiatives.
 On the 27th, the third day of his US trip, he will visit the New York Korean Association Hall and meet with its executives to discuss expanding exchanges and cooperation between the Korean American community and Chungcheongnam-do. He will also explore opportunities for cooperation in a range of areas, including the economy and culture, through overseas Korean networks.
 The day’s main event is a large-scale investment agreement with three global companies at the New York Hilton Midtown. This will be the second foreign investment attraction agreement during the ninth popularly elected term, following the agreement with Germany’s Webasto last August, and is expected to contribute significantly to strengthening the province’s industrial competitiveness and creating jobs.
 The US trip comes as the vision of “Chungnam as an AI capital” is taking shape. Of the 392 trillion won in advanced-industry investment projects for the Chungcheong region announced last July by the government, Samsung, SK, Celltrion and others, Chungnam secured 202 trillion won—more than half. Governor Park has said he intends to accelerate AI investment by promoting what he calls “three-power innovation”—electricity, hydropower, and human resources—and “lightning-speed administration” as the foundation for supporting the investment. The effort to build cooperation networks with overseas AI institutions is seen as a move to connect the global research and industrial ecosystem with this domestic investment base. 
 Immediately after the investment agreement, Governor Park will visit the export consultation session at the same venue, organized by the province and the Chungnam Economic Promotion Agency for the “Chungnam Overseas Market Development Team.” He will encourage local businesspeople and promote the quality of Chungnam’s K-products to buyers. Twenty local SMEs in the cosmetics and food sectors will take part in the session, holding one-on-one consultations with local buyers. 
 For the final event of his US trip, Governor Park will hold “Chungnam Tonghaeng—A Night with Chungcheong People in the Americas” that day at Dimos Manor in New York. The event brings to the United States “Chungnam Tonghaeng,” an initiative through which he has communicated directly with residents in cities and counties. About 250 people, including members of the Chungcheong diaspora and businesspeople from across the Americas, will attend. Governor Park will share how his hometown is changing and explore ways to expand exchanges and cooperation.
 A Chungcheongnam-do official said, “Through this trip, Governor Park will lay the groundwork for the future of Chungnam’s economy by attracting global investment and expanding exports. We will broaden the basis for cooperation with the AI innovation ecosystem and steadily lay the stepping stones toward realizing ‘Chungnam, Korea’s AI capital.’”
[email protected] Kim Won-jun Reporter