Governor Shin Youngjae: "Yongmun-Hongcheon Railroad, a Century-Long Growth Axis Opening the Era of 100,000 Residents"

[Interview] Shin Youngjae, Governor of Hongcheon County, Gangwon Province

Full Commitment to Early Opening of the Yongmun-Hongcheon Railroad

Linking National Antibody Cluster and Station Area Development

Pursuing a Bio Hub, Tourism, and the 100,000 Population Milestone

Hongcheon Takes Off as an Economic City Connected to the Greater Seoul Area

"We will build a leading city that attracts people and businesses"

"The Yongmun-Hongcheon metropolitan railroad is not simply about laying down a single railway line. It is the axis for 100 years of future growth that will completely transform Hongcheon’s population, industry, tourism, and urban space."

Shin Youngjae, County Governor of Hongcheon County. Provided by Hongcheon County

Shin Youngjae, Governor of Hongcheon County, Gangwon Province, outlined the core goal for the ninth popularly elected administration in an interview with The Asia Business Daily: “Hongcheon, the leading economic city leaping powerfully toward the Greater Seoul Area.” His vision is to open a new chapter of growth for Hongcheon by combining the area’s proximity to the Seoul metropolitan area, its vast land, clean natural environment, and agricultural foundation, with railways and the bioindustry.

At the heart of this vision lies the Yongmun-Hongcheon metropolitan railroad. The opening of the railway will drastically improve access to Seoul, making it possible to attract companies, research talent, increase tourist numbers, and grow the resident population. Hongcheon County plans to align a number of initiatives alongside the construction of the railroad, including developing the areas around the stations, fostering the National Antibody Cluster, supporting youth settlement, and adding high value to agriculture. The following is a Q&A with Governor Shin Youngjae.

-What is your top goal for Hongcheon County’s ninth popularly elected administration?

"It is to firmly establish Hongcheon’s growth foundation and ensure that county residents experience tangible results in their daily lives. Hongcheon boasts a wide land area, a clean natural environment, an agricultural base, and proximity to the Greater Seoul Area. I plan to leverage these strengths to create a city where the economy, industry, transportation, welfare, and tourism advance together. One of the most important projects is the Yongmun-Hongcheon metropolitan railroad. By making the railroad a new growth axis, I aim to build a Hongcheon that attracts businesses and people—and becomes a place where young people and families settle down. We will also foster the bio and advanced industries centered around the National Antibody Cluster. My goal during my term is to drive changes that make residents feel ‘Hongcheon’s future is truly changing.’”

-You’ve promoted “the leading economic city.” What are your concrete strategies?

"Simply attracting a few companies is not enough to build an economic city. You must develop an ecosystem where businesses can invest, grow, and develop alongside the local economy. First, we will nurture future industries such as bio-pharmaceuticals and therapeutics, centering on the National Antibody Cluster. The plan is to build an industrial ecosystem linking business attraction, R&D, talent development, and commercialization. Agriculture, too, must go beyond just production. Through smart farming, processing, distribution, and branding, we will transform agriculture into a high value-added industry. In tourism, meanwhile, rather than short visits, we will promote ‘stay and spend’ tourism by connecting the Hongcheon River, forests, hot springs, festivals, and rural experiences. Based on the Yongmun-Hongcheon metropolitan railroad and new road networks, we will create a business- and logistics-friendly environment for companies."

-What are Hongcheon’s future engines for growth?

"It’s advanced bioindustry, smart agriculture & agri-food, and stay-type tourism. These three fields must not be fostered separately; they should be interconnected. In bio, we will build a structure where collaboration among companies, research institutes, and universities leads to research achievements, the growth of companies, and job creation. For agriculture, we will expand smart farming in response to climate change and workforce shortages and broaden the sector to include processing, distribution, and tourism. In tourism, our direction is to balance environmental preservation while maximizing visitor stay and local spending. My goal is to create a ‘Hongcheon-style growth model’ combining these strengths."

-Why is the Yongmun-Hongcheon metropolitan railroad so important?

"I see it as a definite turning point to overcome the risk of Hongcheon’s regional extinction. As of July this year, Hongcheon’s registered population was 65,810. However, the actual daily resident population ranks among the highest nationwide. In 2024 and 2025 statistics, Hongcheon was ranked sixth nationwide. The potential for converting this floating population to permanent residents is significant. For example, Chuncheon’s population rose from some 273,000 in 2012, when the ITX-Cheongchun line opened, to about 285,000 in 2025. Cheonan’s population also grew from about 512,000 in 2005, when Metropolitan Subway Line 1 was opened, to 664,000 last year. If Hongcheon secures a direct rail connection to the Seoul metropolitan network, I believe it will open new opportunities toward an era of 100,000 residents."

A panoramic view of the National Antibody Cluster, which Hongcheon County is fostering as a core growth hub for the bioindustry. Provided by Hongcheon County

-Will the railroad also affect the bioindustry?

"Enormously so. In 2024, Hongcheon was designated as a specialized district for national high-tech strategic industries and as a special opportunity development zone. In October last year, the first phase of the National Antibody Cluster was completed. When the metropolitan railroad opens in 2034, we’ll no longer be solely dependent on road traffic, but will have a transportation network connecting directly and reliably to the metropolitan area. This will be a major advantage in attracting businesses and top research talent to Hongcheon. Based on this, we aim to transform Hongcheon into a ‘National Antibody Cluster Bio Hub City’ comprehensive of antibody therapeutics, diagnostics and analysis, and AI-based drug development.”

-What are your plans for developing the areas around the railway stations?

"Transit-oriented development shouldn’t just mean building apartments and commercial spaces as simple real estate projects. The strategy must be about creating a city where people arriving by rail want to stay, live, and spend. The newly developed areas around the stations and the existing city center should not compete but be connected to grow together. My vision is for a Hongcheon-style station district that links industry, tourism, housing, and rural lifestyles. We will thoroughly incorporate local residents’ voices and expert reviews, as well as study cases from other local governments and railroad-advanced countries like Japan and Germany. It’s not just about a single railway station but about designing the future spatial structure of Hongcheon itself."

-It is said that settling people is harder than attracting them. What are your thoughts?

"That’s true. In the end, jobs and housing must go together. We are integrating support for nurturing young farmers, attracting bio companies, job creation, and establishing youth and worker settlement foundations by leveraging the national fund addressing regional extinction. For example, we are supporting agricultural entrepreneurship through rental smart farms for young farmers, and helping bio companies with R&D and commercialization, centered around the National Antibody Cluster. We are also promoting ‘K-Bio’ advanced city happy housing and comprehensive support centers. It’s crucial that people who come to Hongcheon for work stay on, marry, raise children, and build long-term lives here—not just leave after employment."

-What is your solution for making Hongcheon a place where young people do not leave?

"We must move beyond the idea that providing jobs alone is enough for young people. The city must offer housing, education, culture, transportation, and community. We will create youth jobs in the bio/antibody industry, smart agriculture, tourism, and content industries, and expand support for start-up spaces, education, and business creation. Young people taking on agriculture will be supported with farmland, technology, sales channels, and processing/distribution. We will also reduce housing burdens for young people and newlyweds and expand access to culture and leisure. We will treat young people not just as beneficiaries of support but as key actors shaping Hongcheon’s future together."

-How do you plan to boost Hongcheon’s agricultural competitiveness?

"Agriculture is not a declining industry; on the contrary, as it integrates with technology, it becomes a future growth sector. In a county with high agricultural weight like Hongcheon, the local economy thrives when agriculture thrives. Our representative policy is a 30 billion won project supporting farmers by providing agricultural supplies at half price. We support the purchase of essential items like fertilizer, pesticides, agricultural film, and seeds. In 2025, a total of 8,741 households will receive support, up 16% from the previous year. Our survey showed a 90% satisfaction rate and 100% intention to reapply. We are also expanding delivery fee support for direct-to-consumer agricultural products, as well as agricultural machinery rental and outsourced farm work. We have established a distribution business unit at the county office and are now pioneering overseas markets like the United States and Thailand. Our goal is to shift from ‘agriculture that only produces’ to ‘agriculture that sells well at a fair price.’”

-Why should companies come to Hongcheon?

"Because we offer proximity to the metropolitan area, large available spaces, and a pleasant natural environment. There’s also a robust industrial foundation with the National Antibody Cluster. Going forward, we will focus on attracting companies and research institutions involved in antibody therapeutics, diagnostics and analysis, and AI-based drug development. There are also great possibilities for synergy with smart agriculture, agri-food processing and distribution, functional foods, green industry, and tourism, leisure, and wellness sectors. Our aim in attracting businesses is not a matter of numbers, but about ensuring they settle stably, hire local talent, and create quality jobs as the final goal."

Hongcheon County is promoting a project aiming to complete the design of the Yongmun-Hongcheon metropolitan railway by 2030 and to open it by 2034. Provided by Hongcheon County

-What are the changes that county residents will feel most quickly?

"It’s about reducing inconveniences in daily life—like those related to transportation, welfare, childcare, healthcare, and safety. We will improve mobility services so that seniors and residents in transportation-vulnerable areas can conveniently access hospitals, markets, and government offices. We will strengthen childcare, care, and education support to make Hongcheon a great place to raise children, and expand housing support for young people and newlyweds. For farmers, we will provide policies that deliver practical support on the ground, such as farm machinery, labor, and marketing assistance. I believe the success of county administration is not found in slogans, but in the steady removal of inconveniences in residents’ daily lives."

-Is there anything you would like to say to the residents?

"Hongcheon stands at a critical transition point. The opening of the Yongmun-Hongcheon metropolitan railroad is paving a new path, and the growth potential of future industries is expanding around the National Antibody Cluster. We are committed to implementing policies that bring genuine benefits to residents, rather than projects mere for show. We will be judged by our ability to execute, not by slogans. We will also transparently share the process and outcomes of major projects with residents. The future of Hongcheon cannot be achieved by the government alone—residents, businesses, farmers, and young people must join forces. By making ‘Hongcheon, the leading economic city leaping powerfully toward the Greater Seoul Area’ a reality, we will ensure residents feel a sense of pride and make Hongcheon a place future generations want to return to.”

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