[Interview] Minkyung Mae, Haenam County Council Chair: "Leading Substantial Change for Haenam Beyond Oversight"

Support for KTX and National Agro-Fisheries Center Integration:
"Balanced Development Without Marginalization" Is the Top Priority


Agricultural and Fishing Communities Facing Climate Crisis:
Urgent Need for Field-Oriented Institutional

"The trust and expectations that the people of Haenam place in our council are significant. We will maximize our council's own capabilities, based on sound checks on the executive branch, to live up to that trust."

On July 14th, Min Kyungmae, Chairman of Haenam County Council, repeatedly emphasized the need for "substantial regional change" in an interview with The Asia Business Daily.

Minkyoungmae, Chairman of Haenam County Council, is revealing the operational direction and aspirations of the 10th Haenam County Council in an interview on the 14th. Photo by Joonkyung Lee

This declaration reflects the firm resolve of Haenam County Council not to remain a mere decision-making body, but to reemerge as a core driving force for regional development. Chairman Min's unwavering philosophy is that the most important factor in fulfilling the council's core duties—monitoring and overseeing the executive branch—is the "sense of mission" entrusted to them by the people.

The 10th Haenam County Council is currently pursuing a multi-layered and systematic approach to legislative operation. The council has established four key directions: ▲a policy-oriented council with expertise, ▲an action-driven and empathetic council, ▲a robust and united council, and ▲a future-oriented council preparing for tomorrow. By uniting the capabilities and expertise of all 11 county council members, the plan is to turn voices from the field into concrete policies.

Major National Projects to Drive "Balanced Development Without Exclusion"

The challenges facing Haenam County are by no means light. Currently, Haenam is going through major transitions such as the construction of the National Agro-Food Climate Change Response Center—designated as a core national project—, efforts to attract the high-speed train (KTX), and fostering cutting-edge industries in the Solaseado Corporate City.

The County Council plans to lay a strong institutional foundation so that these hub projects can take root successfully in the region and generate tangible economic effects.

However, what Chairman Min cautions against most is the "imbalance of growth." He stressed, "The benefits of large-scale development projects must not be confined to specific areas," adding, "If a foundation for the growth of the entire county is not established, some areas will inevitably be left behind or hollowed out. Preventing this is where the council will concentrate its capabilities."

County Council Chairman Min Kyungmae is explaining the plans for major national projects and regional development tasks faced by Haenam County. Photo by Lee Jungkyung

The council also has a distinct sense of urgency regarding the county's long-standing backbone industry: agriculture. Expressing deep concerns over the real-world challenges farmers and fishermen now face, particularly due to climate change, Chairman Min called for immediate measures to strengthen agricultural competitiveness.

Above all, Chairman Min identified the top priority as establishing a strong institutional safety net so that farmers can work with peace of mind.

To this end, the council will collaborate with the executive branch around three key focus areas: establishing a resilient production base unaffected by unexpected weather events or natural disasters, proactively expanding smart farming systems to respond to the evolving agricultural landscape, and structurally improving the environment for sustainable agriculture and fisheries.

Transforming Natural Assets into "Stay-Over Tourism" ... Restructuring the Local Economy

The council is also drawing up a blueprint to translate Haenam's natural treasures and deep-rooted historical and cultural heritage into economic value.

Chairman Min stated, "We will expand the wellness and senior tourism base by utilizing Haenam's unique forests and rural resources," and added, "By embedding sophisticated storytelling into Haenam's unique historical and cultural assets, we aim to develop it into a 'stay-over destination' rather than merely a place people pass through." This vision also includes plans to create stable jobs and connect these initiatives with the construction of specialized childcare and education infrastructure.

The council will also proactively address the stagnation of local business districts compounded by the declining population. Chairman Min emphasized the need to fundamentally review existing policies, making improvements to chronic settlement conditions the top policy priority. Special attention will be paid to building a comprehensive welfare safety net across all generations, ensuring that the middle-aged and elderly who have guarded Haenam all their lives are not left behind.

Finally, Chairman Min pledged, "Both the council and the executive branch exist for the people of Haenam. When the people are confronted with real difficulties, we will stand by them first and become a strong spokesperson who offers viable alternatives." Attention is now focused on the future direction of Haenam County Council as it strives to drive regional development beyond its basic duty of checks and oversight.

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