South Chungcheong Province to finalize ‘3-Power Innovation’ plan this year, prepare for 2050 power, water and workforce needs

[Financial News] Hongseong — Reporter Kim Won-jun: South Chungcheong Province will announce this year its “3-Power Innovation” strategy, now being developed to proactively respond to the AI transformation and changes in the industrial structure. The province is accelerating its final preparations, comprehensively reviewing demand through 2050 and the tasks needed to implement the strategy with experts and partner organizations.
 On the 26th, South Chungcheong Province held the third meeting of the South Chungcheong 3-Power Innovation Task Force, chaired by Vice Governor for Administrative Affairs Hong Jong-wan, at a small conference room in the provincial government building. The meeting reviewed sector-by-sector conditions and demand analyses, as well as short-term (2030), medium-term (2040) and long-term (2050) implementation strategies. Since holding its first meeting last July, the province has set the direction for the initiative through discussions among experts in each field, partner organizations and relevant departments, and has analyzed current conditions and future industrial demand with the Chungnam Institute.
 The meeting was attended by relevant provincial departments, partner organizations including Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) and the Korea Water Resources Corporation, and experts in electricity, water and workforce development. Taking into account a broad range of factors shaping South Chungcheong’s future—including the AI transformation, the growth of advanced industries and changes in the industrial structure—participants projected the electricity, water and workforce needs for 2030–2050 under maximum (MAX) and minimum (MIN) scenarios. They closely examined the effectiveness of the corresponding mid- and long-term strategies and implementation tasks.
 South Chungcheong Province expects demand for electricity, water and workers across industry to change substantially as several trends converge: the upgrading of key industries such as semiconductors, displays and secondary batteries; the growth of new industries such as AI data centers; and large-scale investment in advanced industries. The province plans to pursue 3-Power Innovation not merely as an effort to expand individual infrastructure or secure workers, but as a mid- to long-term growth strategy that anticipates future demand and ensures the necessary foundations are in place in time.
 The sharp rise in demand is already becoming a reality. Last month, Dangjin City’s hosting of an AI data center worth around 1 trillion won was confirmed. EFD Co., Ltd. (EFD) will invest a total of 1.2405 trillion won by 2029 to build a 100-MW AI data center at the Dangjin Songsan 2 General Industrial Complex, and has submitted a 100-MW power system impact assessment to KEPCO. South Chungcheong Governor Park Soo-hyun also pledged to accelerate AI investment through “3-Power Innovation—electricity, water and workforce—and ‘lightning-fast administration.’”
 In the electricity sector, the plan is to proactively expand the power grid to meet rising demand driven by industrial growth and the spread of AI. It also calls for securing alternative energy sources, including offshore wind and hydrogen power generation, and establishing a stable supply system using energy storage systems (ESS).
 In the water-supply sector, the province will expand the foundations for regional water supply in anticipation of rising long-term demand, and diversify supply sources by securing alternative water resources, including new sources, seawater desalination and the reuse of treated wastewater.
 In the workforce sector, the province will increase training for talent tailored to industry demand and highly skilled personnel at the master’s and doctoral levels, in line with changes in the industrial structure and technology. It will also strengthen a sustainable workforce system that links reskilling for current employees with the recruitment and settlement of talent from outside the region.
 Based on the discussions, South Chungcheong Province will refine sector-specific implementation tasks and draw up a “South Chungcheong 3-Power Innovation Basic Plan” to integrate, connect and manage electricity, water and workforce needs. The province plans to flesh out existing tasks, identify additional ones and establish a comprehensive mid- to long-term plan this year to create a virtuous cycle between investment in advanced industries and regional growth.
 “South Chungcheong is facing an opportunity for a new leap forward amid a rapidly changing industrial environment, including the AI transformation and growth in advanced industries,” Vice Governor for Administrative Affairs Hong Jong-wan said. “It is more important than anything to anticipate industrial changes and demand and prepare the necessary foundations ahead of time.” He added, “3-Power Innovation is a core growth strategy that supports South Chungcheong’s industrial competitiveness, going beyond securing electricity, water and workers separately. We will bring together the expertise of specialists and partner organizations, complete 3-Power Innovation and do our utmost to help South Chungcheong become the AI capital of the Republic of Korea.”
[email protected] Kim Won-jun Reporter