In an interview with ChosunBiz, Democratic Party of Korea candidate for North Chungcheong governor Shin Yong-han said, "Based on my experience as a corporations chief executive officer (CEO) and in government, I will pursue flexible governance suited to the global era," adding, "If, as North Chungcheong governor, I must choose between justification and practical benefit, I will unequivocally choose the practical benefit residents need."
Shin is an entrepreneur who, in his 30s, served as the youngest CEO of the Kukdong Oil & Chemicals Group. He also founded and ran a venture capital firm. He put forward "North Chungcheong as a special province for startups" as his No. 1 campaign pledge for the governorship. Shin said, "A corporations person pursues efficiency and effectiveness," adding, "That is fundamentally different from politicians or bureaucrats who think, 'How can we distribute taxes evenly without being criticized?'" The interview with Shin took place on the 13th at the ChosunBiz main conference room.
–How will you leverage your career as a corporations person in the North Chungcheong governorship?
"In the past, I worked five years as a venture capital (VC) CEO. While leading a VC, I developed the habit of asking, 'Which crossroads of the future should we seize?' A corporations person pursues efficiency and effectiveness rather than balance. That aligns with the pragmatism of the Lee Jae-myung administration."
–You put forward a "K-pop arena" as a pledge. It overlaps with your opponent's "dome baseball stadium" pledge.
"A K-pop arena is an indoor gymnasium specialized for performances. The scale would be about 15,000 seats, and the budget is expected to be within 200 billion won. A dome baseball stadium pledge is fine, but its utilization is low relative to expense. With the money to build a dome, we could create a large sports complex that includes an indoor gymnasium and a new soccer stadium. North Chungcheong does not even have a baseball team. Saying you will attract neutral-site games shows a failure to understand baseball, a sport with a strong 'franchise' character."
–The imbalance between central and northern/southern parts of North Chungcheong is serious.
"The internal regional imbalance is considerable. There are two policies to resolve it. First is the transfer of public institutions. For example, Jecheon hosts the International Oriental Medicine and Natural Products Industry Expo, so we could pursue balanced development by bringing in institutions that conduct toxicity tests and the like. The other is a 'mini Smart City.' In the case of Goesan, its GRDP is the fourth highest in North Chungcheong because the smart farm industry has developed. If we support migrants with a settlement fund and foster industries suited to the AI era, a self-sustaining 'mini Smart City' will take shape."
–With Daejeon and South Chungcheong pushing administrative integration, a "North Chungcheong neglect" argument has also emerged.
"Rather than talk of neglect, I think we should go forward confidently with pride. For example, Cheongju, the capital of North Chungcheong, has a smaller population than Daejeon, a metropolitan city, but thanks to strong results at SK hynix, its gross regional domestic product (GRDP) is likely to overtake Daejeon's. North Chungcheong can form an integrated economic zone with Daejeon, South Chungcheong, and Sejong, while also having the strength of robust semiconductor, secondary battery, and bio industries. It can become a 'small but strong special province.'"
–You previously worked in the Park Geun-hye administration and on the Yoon Suk-yeol transition committee.
"During the Park Geun-hye administration's impeachment phase, I pushed back, saying we should write an 'impeachment white paper.' During Yoon Suk-yeol's transition, I saw the president-elect's words and actions and saw a 'shadow of impeachment.' In the end, I resigned from the transition committee. People around me couldn't understand. They said if I stayed still, I could become a Minister, that I was walking away with the grain in front of me. When President Lee Jae-myung recruited me in 2024, he spoke of a vision of 'economic expert' and 'expanding to moderates.' Now the conservatives have no pillars and only particulars remain. It's regrettable."
☞Who is Shin Yong-han
Born in Cheongju, North Chungcheong, he graduated from Cheongju High School and Yonsei University with a degree in business administration. After serving as president at the Kukdong Oil & Chemicals Group, he was CEO of Uam Holdings, Max Venture Investment, and Evercare. In 2014, he entered politics when he was recruited in the Park Geun-hye administration as Chairperson of the Presidential Youth Committee. He served as an adviser to the Yoon Suk-yeol Presidential Transition Committee, resigned his commissioner post, and left the People Power Party. Ahead of the 22nd general election, he was recruited as the Democratic Party's 15th talent.