Governor Kim Yung-rok presents the vision of the South Coast Tourism Belt in the world

“The beginning of the New South Coast Era with the establishment of Busan, Gyeongsangnam-do, and the South Coast Development Authority”
[Tourism Department Manager Cho Dae-jeong 286-5210, Tourism Policy Team Leader 286-5220]

(Four photos of the South Coast Future Vision Forum are attached)
South Jeolla Province Governor Kim Yung-rok presented the “Vision for Success of the South Coast Tourism Belt in the World,” centered in Jeonnam with Busan and Gyeongnam, at the South Coast Future Vision Forum held at the Changwon Exhibition Convention Center in Gyeongnam on the afternoon of the fourth.

About 200 people attended the forum, including Governor Kim Yung-rok, Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon, South Gyeongsang Province Governor Park Wan-soo, National Assembly member Choi Hyung-du, businesses, academic experts, and more.

The event began with a video of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo’s congratulatory speech, then proceeded with the vision presentations by the heads of Jeonnam, Gyeongnam, and Busan, followed by expert presentations and discussions.

Governor Kim Yung-rok, who was presenting the vision, said, “We will advance the era of 100 million tourists to Jeonnam and 3 million overseas tourists through world-class tourist destinations such as Purple Island, natural resources such as UNESCO-listed tidal flats, splendid history and culture, food from southern region Namdo that captivates the tastes of people around the world, the successful hosting of international large-scale events, and more.” He then added, “We are also focusing on expanding social overhead capital (SOC), such as the extension of the runway at Muan International Airport, the only KTX connection in Korea, a BusanMokpo two-hour south coast high-speed railway, GwangjuYeongam Autobahn, and GwangjuGoheung Expressway.”

He continued, “South Jeolla Province led the expansion of the southern region tourism development project to a scale of KRW 3 trillion, and five leading projects worth KRW 143.8 billion were reflected first, including the South Coast Water Performance Center, Chupo Island Food Tourism Theme Recycling Project, and more. With the center in Jeonnam, and with Busan and Gyeongnam, we will open a new paradigm for Korea’s development, the ‘New South Coast Era.’”

Governor Kim Yung-rok also said, “Jeonnam and Gyeongnam provinces and Busan City will join forces to revitalize cruises to attract tourists on a large scale and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) that connects islands of the southern coast boasting world-class, unexplored places.” He stressed, “While making efforts to host the World EXPO 2030 Busan, we will hold the 2023 National Para Games as a nationally moving sports event comparable to the Olympics and will actively work on the successful hosting of the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo, and actively attract the UN Climate Change Convention Conference of the Parties (COP33).”

In addition, he emphasized, “To comprehensively and systematically develop the South Coast, the government-led and regionally participated ‘South Coast Development Authority’ must be established. We need to join forces with Busan and Gyeongnam to enact the ‘Special Act on the Development of the South Coast Area,’ which will serve as the basis for establishing the South Coast Development Authority.”

At the suggestion of Governor Kim Yung-rok, Jeonnam and Gyeongnam provinces, and Busan City signed with Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon and South Gyeongsang Province Governor Park Wan-soo a “mutually beneficial agreement to establish a global marine tourism belt in the South Coast” in Gwangyang in December of last year.

Jeonnam and Gyeongnam provinces and Busan City are continuously collaborating to promote the success of the South Coast Tourism Belt by holding a “Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Southern Coast (Jeonnam, Busan, and Gyeongnam) Policy Council” with Cho Seung-hwan, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, and signing a “business agreement to promote marine leisure tourism in the South Coast area,” etc. in Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do, in February of this year.

◇ Photo Description
(South Coast Future Vision Forum 1)
South Jeolla Province Governor Kim Yung-rok, South Gyeongsang Province Governor Park Wan-soo, and Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon hold hands after a conversation at the “South Coast Future Vision Forum,” held at the Changwon Exhibition Convention Center on the afternoon of the fourth.

(South Coast Future Vision Forum 2, 3)
South Jeolla Province Governor Kim Yung-rok is having a conversation with South Gyeongsang Province Governor Park Wan-soo and Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon at the “South Coast Future Vision Forum,” held at the Changwon Convention Center on the afternoon of the fourth on the topic of “The future value of the South Coast Tourism Belt.”

(South Coast Future Vision Forum 4)
South Jeolla Province Governor Kim Yung-rok is giving a presentation on the topic of “South Coast Tourism Belt in the World” at the “South Coast Future Vision Forum,” held at the Changwon Exhibition Convention Center on the afternoon of the fourth with the attendance of the heads of Jeonnam and Gyeongnam provinces and Busan city.