[Interview] Governor-elect Won-Taek Lee of Jeonbuk: "We Will Achieve a Great Leap Forward with a Strong, Self-Reliant Economy"

Establishing the Jeonbuk Growth Corporation as the Top Priority in the Early Stage of the Term
Creating a Physical AI Valley and Semiconductor Cluster Centered on Saemangeum
Returning Renewable Energy Profits to Households through an "Energy Dividend"
Honam-Jeju Megacity: "Project-Based Cooperation, Not Administrative Integration"

Won-Taek Lee, Governor-elect of Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province, has presented "a strong, self-reliant economy" and "realization of residents' sovereignty" as the core visions for the 9th popularly elected provincial administration. In an interview with The Asia Business Daily on June 24, Lee stated, "We will break away from the limitations of a provincial administration that has long depended on central government support, and shift to an endogenous development system where Jeonbuk's resources, businesses, and talent circulate and drive growth within the region."

Won Taek Lee, Governor-elect of Jeonbuk Special Autonomous Province.
[Photo by Won Taek Lee's Office]

As the top priorities at the beginning of his term, he cited the establishment of the "Jeonbuk Growth Corporation" and the creation of the "Jeonbuk-Type Growth Fund." His plan is to build a system that provides technological and financial support so that local businesses can become key players in future industries such as AI and mobility. He also intends to immediately activate five subcommittees and three special committees within the transition team to lay the groundwork for renewable energy and physical AI industries.

Regarding his core pledges to foster AI semiconductors and the physical AI industry, Lee announced plans to create the "Jeonbuk Physical AI Valley" in Saemangeum, attracting investment from major conglomerates such as Hyundai Motor Group. The aim is to connect AI robots, semiconductors, data centers, and autonomous manufacturing into an integrated belt, while establishing an industry-academia-research ecosystem with institutions like KAIST. Addressing the much-debated "200 trillion won-scale AI semiconductor infrastructure" pledge, Lee said, "We are closely monitoring the difficulties in securing electricity and water at the Yongin industrial complex," reaffirming his commitment by adding, "Jeonbuk's RE100-based infrastructure and physical AI ecosystem will be the most attractive alternative."

On his "Sunlight and Wind Pension City" initiative, Lee explained that he would implement an "energy dividend" model that distributes revenue from renewable energy generation to households in the form of a pension, aiming to transform Jeonbuk into an energy self-sufficient city that realizes "resident-shared growth."

The Honam-Jeju megacity initiative will be pursued as a "Southwestern Economic Community" linking Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, Gwangju, and Jeju, with Lee stating his intention to promote a "practical megacity" through project-based cooperation rather than administrative integration. To address regional imbalances, he proposed a four-pronged development strategy centered on the Saemangeum area (Gunsan, Gimje, Buan), the Central Urban Area (Jeonju, Wanju, Iksan), the Northeastern Area (Muju, Jinan, Jangsu, Namwon, Imsil), and the Southwestern Area (Jeongeup, Gochang, Sunchang).

Regarding the policy review of the 8th popularly elected administration, Lee emphasized, "The only standard for policy should be the tangible benefit to residents," and announced plans to restructure projects with low impact. He stressed that a separate "Residents’ Sovereignty" subcommittee will be formed to ensure that residents directly participate in policy planning and evaluation. For youth issues, he said he would move away from one-off cash support and instead create a "job ecosystem" centered on startup support and future industrial clusters.

When asked about the evaluation he would like to receive after four years, Lee said, "Rather than being remembered for grand rhetoric, I want to be remembered as a 'relentless governor' who fiercely negotiates with the central government to secure Jeonbuk's share and fulfills promises."

This is an interview with Governor-elect Won-Taek Lee on the background of his pledges during the recent local elections—including renewable energy, physical AI, AI semiconductors, and the Honam-Jeju megacity vision—and the establishment of five subcommittees and three special committees within the transition team.

Won-Taek Lee, Governor-Elect of Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province.
[Photo provided by the Office of Won-Taek Lee]

① Direction of Provincial Administration

1. What is the core vision that runs through the 9th popularly elected Jeonbuk provincial administration, and what change do you want residents to notice first?

The core visions are "a strong, self-reliant economy" and "realization of residents' sovereignty."

We will boldly break away from the limitations of relying on central government support for the past 30 years. It is time to transform into an endogenous development system in which Jeonbuk’s resources, businesses, and talent circulate and grow within the region. The most immediate change residents will feel is a stronger presence of the administration in the field.

We will move away from desk-bound administration and implement a "responsible administration" where residents are the main agents in policy-making. Specifically, we will set up a system that reflects residents’ voices from the field into policy in real time, creating changes that provide substantial economic benefits to residents through results, not words.

2. With the launch of the transition team, you have emphasized a "Great Leap Forward for Jeonbuk." What will be your top priority at the start of your term?

At the start of my term, my top priorities will be establishing the "Jeonbuk Growth Corporation" and creating the "Jeonbuk-Type Growth Fund" to fundamentally transform Jeonbuk’s economic structure. This is not just about attracting external companies; it is about building a system that provides comprehensive support for local businesses in terms of technology and finance, enabling them to become key players in future industries such as AI and mobility.

To achieve this, we will immediately activate five subcommittees and three special committees within the transition team to rapidly establish the foundations for renewable energy and physical AI industries. Through fierce and strategic negotiations with the central government, we will ensure Jeonbuk secures its fair share. We will lay a solid foundation for Jeonbuk’s great leap forward at the start of my term, so that residents can tangibly feel changes in their daily lives.

② Future Industries and Economy

3. The fostering of AI semiconductors and the physical AI industry are presented as new growth engines for Jeonbuk. What specific companies, talent, and infrastructure do you plan to attract to build this industrial ecosystem?

We will secure future growth engines by creating the "Jeonbuk Physical AI Valley" centered on Saemangeum, leveraging investment from major conglomerates such as Hyundai Motor Group. Our plan is to connect AI robots, semiconductors, data centers, and autonomous manufacturing (dark factories) into an organic belt, building an industrial ecosystem with global competitiveness.

To this end, we will cooperate with leading domestic universities and specialized research institutes such as KAIST to build an industry-academia-research ecosystem, alongside practical talent training. We will focus all our efforts on creating a high value-added industrial ecosystem where businesses take root and young people gather, making Jeonbuk a key hub for Korea’s future industries.

4. There are questions about the feasibility and funding of the "200 trillion won-scale AI semiconductor infrastructure" plan. Can you explain your roadmap for implementation?

The "200 trillion won-scale AI semiconductor infrastructure" is a core task for Jeonbuk's future. I am well aware of concerns, such as the placement of post-processing plants, but I am unwavering in my goal to attract a semiconductor mega-cluster.

We are closely communicating with major companies and reviewing strategies. In particular, we are monitoring the difficulties in securing electricity and water at the Yongin industrial complex. In this context, Jeonbuk’s RE100-based infrastructure and physical AI ecosystem will be the most attractive alternative.

Rather than getting caught up in simple numbers, we will maximize investment efficiency by linking this with the Physical AI Valley. We will prepare a flawless phased roadmap to turn external environmental changes into opportunities for Jeonbuk’s development. Promises are commitments to residents. We will complete Jeonbuk as a key hub for Korea’s future industries and prove it with results.

5. You have pledged to promote renewable energy and the "Sunlight and Wind Pension City." What tangible benefits will local residents receive?

We will complete an "energy dividend" model that directly shares profits from Jeonbuk’s abundant renewable energy resources with residents. This is an innovative policy that goes beyond simply fostering an industry, guaranteeing a real basic income by distributing cash to each household in the form of a pension sourced from renewable energy revenues.

We will prevent marginalization that could occur during the energy transition and ensure the benefits are distributed fairly among residents, realizing "resident-shared growth." Through this, we will transform Jeonbuk from a mere energy production base into a sustainable energy self-sufficient city where residents enjoy economic sovereignty.

③ Balanced Development and Regional Cooperation

6. The Honam-Jeju megacity initiative was included as both a pledge and a special committee task for the transition team. What areas of cooperation does Jeonbuk intend to lead, and what are the expected effects?

To ensure Jeonbuk is not left behind in the era of large inter-regional zones, we will build the "Southwestern Economic Community" connecting Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, Gwangju, and Jeju. By combining the capabilities of each city and province, we will strengthen our response to the central government, realize economies of scale, and maximize external competitiveness.

By integrating each region’s strengths—such as renewable energy and AI semiconductors—we will leap forward as a global advanced industry hub and expand ultra-wide logistics and transportation networks to secure economic mobility. We will move away from the rigidity of administrative integration and promote a "practical megacity" by cooperating on a project-by-project basis.

To achieve this, we will launch a "special committee" within the transition team and institutionalize regular working-level consultative bodies to identify concrete cooperation projects. Based on our shared historical community values, we will complete a substantive economic zone that encompasses industry and culture, and Jeonbuk will confidently establish itself as the central axis of southwestern cooperation.

7. Despite Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province's establishment, concerns about population decline and regional extinction remain. In particular, there are significant economic disparities between the eastern and western regions. What are your plans for balanced development?

We plan to completely restructure Jeonbuk’s growth engines around four specialized development axes in the province.

The Saemangeum area (Gunsan, Gimje, Buan) will foster advanced industries based on RE100 and become a hub for global energy cities. The Central Urban Area (Jeonju, Wanju, Iksan) will be upgraded as the core base driving Jeonbuk’s economy.

The Northeastern Area (Muju, Jinan, Jangsu, Namwon, Imsil) will be specialized as a base for recreation and agro-bio industries utilizing pristine nature, while the Southwestern Area (Jeongeup, Gochang, Sunchang) will be developed as a smart agriculture belt and a center for historical and cultural tourism, maximizing each region’s potential.

Through these four development axis strategies, we will achieve balanced regional development, ensure residents experience tangible growth, and strengthen Jeonbuk’s pride.

④ Administrative Innovation and Resident-Focused Policies

8. The transition team said it would also conduct a review of the 8th provincial administration. What is your standard for policies to be continued or radically reformed?

The only standard for policy is the "tangible benefit to residents." Policies that have been proven effective and provide substantial help to residents’ lives will be continued and developed, while formal and low-impact projects will be boldly restructured. Through the transition team’s review, we will strictly eliminate wasteful budget items and completely reprioritize projects to align with the 9th administration’s vision. We will break away from conventional administrative practices and innovate with a practical administration based solely on data and results. We will strengthen oversight to ensure not a single won of residents’ taxes is wasted, and demonstrate honest administration through outcomes.

9. You established "Residents’ Sovereignty" as a separate subcommittee. What changes do you plan to make in terms of resident participation and the policy decision-making process?

The reason for establishing a separate "Residents’ Sovereignty" subcommittee is to place residents at the start and end of every policy. Rather than one-off opinion gathering, we will create an institutional framework for residents to directly participate in all aspects of provincial administration, including policy planning, budget allocation, and evaluation. We will activate a resident-participatory administrative platform to enhance transparency and efficacy in decision-making. We will ensure residents can feel proud that "the policies I made are changing the province," and will immediately reflect field demands in the policy decision process to usher in a new era of residents’ sovereignty. This is the most important innovation that will reshape Jeonbuk’s governance under the 9th administration.

10. Addressing youth jobs and population outflow has been a long-standing challenge for successive provincial administrations. What is your core policy to help young people stay in Jeonbuk?

We will move away from simple, one-off cash support policies and focus on building a "job ecosystem" where young people can sustain themselves. By establishing a support system for startups and future industry clusters that allow youth to challenge themselves and recover from failure, we will create quality jobs. In addition, we will create tailored residential environments so that young people are satisfied not only with work, but also with housing, culture, and education. Creating a substantial opportunity structure in Jeonbuk where youth can dream and realize those dreams is the only truly core policy to prevent population outflow and secure Jeonbuk’s future.

⑤ Political Leadership

11. After four years, what do you hope residents will say has changed most, and how would you like to be remembered as governor?

After four years, I hope residents will say, "Life in Jeonbuk has truly changed since Won-Taek Lee’s administration." Rather than being remembered for grand rhetoric, I want to be known as a "relentless governor" who secured Jeonbuk's share through negotiations with the central government and fulfilled promises, earning the trust of residents. By building a "strong, self-reliant economy" that fills residents’ pockets and leaves no region marginalized, I want every resident to feel proud to be from Jeonbuk. I will dedicate myself to listening to voices from the field throughout my term and strive to be remembered as a historic governor who led Jeonbuk’s great leap forward without losing sight of my original intentions.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.