[Interview] Yeongdeok County Governor Cho Juhong: "Building a Foundation for an Energy Industry City by Linking Nuclear and Wind Power"

Energy as a Driver of Growth
Charting Yeongdeok's Next 20 Years
First 100 Days: Livelihood Recovery and a 1 Trillion Won Investment Target
Vision for an Industrial City Linking Nuclear and Wind Power

Cho Juhong, governor of Yeongdeok County in North Gyeongsang Province, marked his first 100 days in office by naming livelihood recovery, stronger public finances, and the development of an energy industry base as key priorities for his ninth popularly elected administration.

In particular, he said he plans to link local energy resources, including new nuclear power plants and wind power, with industry, jobs, and living conditions, and to use nuclear power plant support funds to build a foundation for long-term regional development.

Yeongdeok County Governor Jo Juhong is speaking with a reporter from The Asia Business Daily. He is engaging with 105 residents, working to restore livelihoods, and promoting an era of 1 trillion won in budget and investment. “Nuclear power plant support funds are an asset for future generations.” He emphasized resident consent, safety, and shared benefits. [Photo by Kwon Byeonggeon]

On October 8, Cho held an event at the main conference hall of Yeongdeok County Office to communicate with residents. A total of 105 people took part, including farmers and fishers, forestry workers, traditional market merchants, and residents involved in welfare, culture, sports, and healthcare.

The previous day, October 7, he held a briefing on plans for the ninth popularly elected administration’s implementation strategies and reviewed a mid- to long-term development direction to address changes in the energy landscape, including new nuclear power plants, and advance major projects in 2027.

Building on the vision he presented when he took office, “A Proper County Administration, Yeongdeok on the Move Again,” Cho plans to focus the county’s administrative resources on field-oriented governance, actively securing national funding, and fostering future industries.

Q What was the purpose of holding a dialogue with residents to mark your first 100 days in office?

A "The starting point of county administration is residents’ lives. It is important to hear directly about the difficulties residents from various fields, including farmers, fishers, and market merchants, face in their daily work, and to reflect their concerns in policy. If many residents describe the same difficulty, it should be treated not as an individual complaint but as an issue the administration must address. The aim was to hear a wide range of views, from everyday inconveniences to Yeongdeok’s future sources of growth."

Q What is the most urgent task for the ninth popularly elected administration?

A "Reviving the local economy and stabilizing people’s livelihoods. Yeongdeok faces several challenges at once, including damage from a large wildfire, a declining population, a sluggish local economy, and strained local finances. We will support the return to normal life in affected areas and inject vitality into the local economy, while pursuing policies to expand jobs and establish a stronger foundation for people to settle here over the long term."

Q You have set a goal of entering an era of 1 trillion won in budget and investment. What are your specific plans?

A "It is difficult to carry out all the projects we need using local revenue alone. We will identify projects Yeongdeok needs and seek funding by going directly to the National Assembly, the central government, and North Gyeongsang Province. We will actively pursue key issues, including the Jangsa Landing Operation Victory Memorial Hall, a memorial space for student soldiers, the National Yeongdeok Ecological Exploration Center, comprehensive improvements to Goesi Village, flood and storm damage prevention projects in residential areas, upgrades to aging sewage pipes, and marine tourism facilities. We also need to strengthen the administrative organization’s capacity to secure national funding and attract corporate investment."

Q What is your vision for an energy industry city that links new nuclear power plants with wind power?

A "We will not view nuclear power and wind power merely as separate generation projects. We aim to link diverse energy resources and use them as a foundation for developing industry, creating jobs, and growing the local economy together. It is important to go beyond generating electricity and create an industrial environment where companies can set up operations, people can work, and residents can put down roots. We will develop a mid- to long-term strategy for Yeongdeok by considering the energy industry alongside transportation, healthcare, education, and housing."

Q What principles will guide the use of nuclear power plant support funds?

A "It is important for the funds to remain a long-term asset for the region rather than be spent on short-term projects. We will consider using them in a range of areas, including developing industrial complexes and attracting companies; expanding housing, education, and healthcare infrastructure; welfare and cultural tourism; and strengthening the competitiveness of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. Our focus will be on building a foundation that will benefit the region even 10 or 20 years from now."

Q How will you address residents’ consent and safety in the process of pursuing nuclear power projects?

A "In relation to new nuclear power plants, I have set out three principles: residents’ safety, residents’ consent, and benefits for all residents. We must consider not only the economic impact of energy projects but also their effects on safety, the environment, and residents’ lives. We need to hear residents’ views and engage in discussion to ensure that support funds and benefits to the local economy do not concentrate in specific areas or among particular groups, but instead improve the quality of life for all county residents."

Q What is the direction for recovery in areas affected by the large wildfires?

A "Rebuilding damaged facilities such as homes and roads is a basic task. We must also consider the infrastructure residents need to resume stable lives, including jobs, healthcare, education, transportation, and welfare. We will take a comprehensive look at housing conditions, community infrastructure, and the agricultural, forestry, and fisheries base in affected areas to develop a long-term regional recovery plan."

Q What is your position on attracting national facilities, such as correctional facilities?

A "Attracting national facilities can affect the local economy, population, and living conditions. We should assess the benefits of bringing in new agencies or facilities while also carefully considering their impact on residents’ lives and any concerns they may have. It is important to disclose relevant information and establish a process for residents and the county council to discuss the matter together."

Q What will be your priorities for county administration after your first 100 days in office?

A "We will continue to focus on recovering livelihoods, field-oriented administration, and laying the groundwork for future industries. We will pursue projects needed for regional development by securing national funding and attracting investment, and flesh out implementation strategies to link new energy projects with existing industries. We will focus on listening to residents, advancing necessary policies, and building a foundation for Yeongdeok’s long-term development."

The core of Governor Cho’s vision for an energy industry city is to channel the financial benefits of attracting power-generation facilities into a foundation for sustainable regional growth. However, for nuclear and wind power projects to lead to actual corporate investment, quality jobs, and population growth, they will need to be backed by concrete implementation plans covering industrial demand, infrastructure, and financing. In particular, it will be important to disclose transparently the criteria for distributing nuclear power plant support funds, procedures for public participation, and the economic impact of each project.

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