The goals of the artificial intelligence (AI) grand transition are largely twofold. South Chungcheong will preempt future growth engines to lead national policy, and make residents' daily lives safer and more convenient. To that end, we plan to push an AI grand transition that goes "broader," "farther," and "stronger."
South Chungcheong Gov. Kim Tae-heum said in an interview with ChosunBiz on the 26th, "Amid global competition for technological hegemony and rapidly changing trade conditions, we declared an AI grand transition (AX) to protect national competitiveness and prepare for future industries."
Regarding the expression "broader, farther, stronger," Kim explained, "It means expanding AI use across all industries including manufacturing, biotech, and agro-livestock-fisheries, as well as public administration, and building sustainable infrastructure such as data centers based on power, water, and renewable energy so we can see farther."
Kim also said, "We recently launched the AI Special Committee, composed of 32 members including executives from global big tech and advanced-industry corporations, faculty, and research institutions," adding, "We will also establish a dedicated AI department on Jan. 1 next year to pull up momentum even stronger."
The governor said, "We plan to raise the manufacturing AI utilization rate from 7.3% in 2024 to 40% by 2030," and noted that the province will focus investment on three areas: technology, space, and people.
He said, "On Sept. 9, the nation's first AI manufacturing technology convergence center opened, and when the industrial AI certification support center opens next year, full-cycle support from R&D to testing and certification will be possible." He continued, "By 2027, we will train 15,000 region-specialized AI talents and secure super-gap competitiveness in key industries such as the future vehicle AX ecosystem (worth 1 trillion won)," adding, "Aging industrial complexes will be converted into smart complexes based on AI autonomous processes." The following is a Q&A with the governor.
—Tell us about your investment achievements during the 8th popularly elected term.
So far, we have drawn a total of 4.09257 trillion won in investments from 297 companies. This is three times the 1.45 trillion won in investment attraction during the previous 7th term. In 2023 alone, we attracted 1.51442 trillion won. One year's results exceeded the entire previous term. Our goal is to attract 4.5 trillion won in corporate investment by the end of the term.
—What is the secret?
It is because South Chungcheong has steadily built a solid industrial infrastructure and a customized support system for corporations. The province has an optimal transportation network that connects to major hubs nationwide, including the capital region, within one to two hours. It also has a robust industrial ecosystem based on 181 industrial complexes. In addition, a 130 billion won fund to foster small and medium-sized enterprises and a 600 billion won venture fund have been created. We also provide extensive practical support such as overseas export consultations and buyer matching.
—Is there an investment attraction case you are particularly attached to?
South Chungcheong has actively fostered future industries such as semiconductors, future mobility, and secondary batteries by attracting large corporations like Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor, SK, and LG. However, the biotech field was weak. By attracting Celltrion, we can now envision the future of the bio industry. The driving force was promoting the Naepo agri-bio convergence industry cluster.
—What is the Naepo agri-bio convergence industry cluster?
We are creating a 500,000-pyeong cluster across Sapgyo-eup, Yesan. It is a cluster that provides a new agri-bio industry base where research, production, and distribution are performed in one place. By attracting bio corporations including Celltrion, we expect 300 billion won in investment, 300 jobs, and revitalization of the local economy.
—How will residents' daily lives change with the AI grand transition?
We plan to prepare and apply an AI city pilot model to solve local issues such as mobility for older adults, river flooding, and wildfires. For structural regional issues such as disparities between the north and south and the urban-rural composite character, we will try to create models that can spread nationwide through living lab experiments. In the public sector, we will actively introduce AI to innovate into a high-performing local government, and we will overhaul systems so residents can enjoy faster and more convenient administrative services. This year, we provided training on using Generative AI to 700 public officials. We will expand this to further strengthen the organization's AI capabilities.
—Tell us about the plan to train 15,000 AI talents.
To cultivate future AI and software talent, South Chungcheong supports AI and software major and convergence education at five universities designated as software-centered universities. About 15,000 people will complete the training by 2027. If additional universities are selected afterward, the scale will expand further. We will strengthen the linkage system of "education–field–jobs" so they can demonstrate capabilities at local industry sites. We will operate employment support programs that connect the digital and AI needs of corporations with local talent, and through the South Chungcheong industrial AI transition alliance, we will support AI technology talent to participate in demonstrations with research institutions in the province.
—What regulations need to be resolved, or what support is needed from the central government, for the AI grand transition?
The success or failure of the AI grand transition depends on how much data we can secure and use. In particular, to apply AI across daily life—manufacturing, agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and public administration—we must build AI data centers to store and manage data stably. National infrastructure support is also needed, including high-capacity power supply and expansion of the power grid. Among the data held by the central government, public data related to South Chungcheong's specialized industries should be opened to facilitate AI training, and a national standard system for data quality and formats is urgently needed. We also need to be designated as a "regional AI innovation hub," a government initiative, so South Chungcheong can leap to the center of a smart manufacturing powerhouse.
—You expressed interest in the bio industry. Is there a particular field you are focusing on within the bio industry?
Biohealth. Biohealth is growing quite rapidly amid social changes such as aging, increased chronic diseases, and the experience of pandemics. In particular, regenerative medicine, bio medical devices, and microbiome diagnosis and treatment technologies directly contribute to extending healthy life spans and reducing medical costs. We intend to foster it as a future strategic industry for the economy and industries, as well as residents' lives and happiness.
—What efforts have you made to foster the biohealth sector?
We operate the Sleep Industry Promotion Center and the Bio and Medical Comprehensive Support Center, establishing a one-stop support system from device development to approvals and commercialization. We also set up the nation's only full-cycle support system for commercializing microbiome pharmaceuticals. Last year, to foster the bio industry, we established the Bio Industry Division within the province.
—What other fields are there besides biohealth?
Green bio is also an important strategic field. Based on abundant agri-bio resources, South Chungcheong is considered an optimal location for the green bio industry. If we create new high added value in agriculture and agri-food, I believe it will greatly help solve issues such as rural depopulation driven by an aging farming population.
☞Gov. Kim Tae-heum of South Chungcheong
Born in 1963 in Boryeong
Sogang University Graduate School of Public Policy (master's in public administration)
Member of the 19th–21st National Assembly
Chair of the Korea–Laos Parliamentary Friendship Association
Chairperson, National Assembly Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee