Gangwon Anchor Kicks Off Ultra-Wide Area Talent and Industrial Cooperation with Metropolitan & Three Special Regions

Joint Summer Forum at Yonsei University with 700 Participants on August 4

Metropolitan and 3Special Joint Vision Unveiled... Collaboration Plans Announced by Each City-Province in Relay

Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province is taking the lead in ultra-wide area talent development and industrial cooperation, connecting the Seoul metropolitan area with other special self-governing regions such as Jeonbuk and Jeju.

The Gangwon ANCHOR inauguration ceremony was held on July 28 at Sodom Square Gangwon in Chuncheon. Provided by Gangwon Province

On August 3, Gangwon Province and the Gangwon Anchor Center announced that, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, the Committee for the Era of Local Autonomy, and five city-provinces including Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, Jeonbuk, and Jeju, they will hold the "2026 Metropolitan Area & Three Special Autonomous Regions (3Special) Anchor Summer Forum" at 1:30 p.m. on August 4 at the Yonsei University Main Auditorium.

Under the theme "Synergy of the Hexagon: Leading Balanced Growth," this forum will bring together around 700 participants, including representatives from the Ministry of Education, the Committee for the Era of Local Autonomy, central and local anchor centers, and university anchor project teams from the metropolitan and three special autonomous regions. As the final regional summer relay forum following those of the Honam, Southeast, Daegyeong, and Central regions, it will be the largest event of its kind.

The forum is organized to identify cross-regional collaborative initiatives that go beyond administrative boundaries, based on the regional growth talent development system "ANCHOR", and to expand exchanges among universities, local communities, and industries. The six city-provinces will share each region’s industrial strengths and university capacities, seeking joint growth strategies to lead in an era of "Five Poles, Three Specials."

Gangwon Province plans to concretize the ultra-wide area cooperation direction, which is the core focus of the "Gangwon Anchor" officially launched on July 28, at this forum. The Gangwon Anchor system aims to train the talent needed by businesses at local universities so that young people can study, find jobs, and settle in Gangwon. The focus has shifted from a university-centered policy for regional innovation to a student- and outcome-centered approach.

During the event, a joint vision for the metropolitan area and three special regions will be proclaimed, and all six city-provinces will each present their ultra-wide area collaboration plans linking local strengths and resources. From Gangwon Province, Kang Magu, Deputy Director of the Yonsei University Future Campus Anchor Project Group and Director of the Future Planning Division, will be a featured presenter.

This will be followed by a comprehensive discussion on the topic of "ANCHOR and the Era of Five Poles, Three Specials: Strategies for Industrial Cooperation among the Metropolitan and Three Special Regions." Lee Heeje, Director of the LRS Shared University Headquarters at Kangwon National University, will participate as Gangwon’s representative discussant, addressing ways to connect regional industries with talent development and expand practical cooperation across regions.

Kim Misook, Director of the Gangwon Anchor Center, stated, "Building on the policy shift from university-centered to student-centered talent development, we will further expand ultra-wide area cooperation by linking the industrial strengths and university capacities of the metropolitan area and the three special autonomous regions."

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