Stepping on the Accelerator for Regional Innovation

"We must ensure the success of revitalizing local companies and universities and creating local jobs as outlined in the regional innovation development plan. We need to support and coordinate from the center while preserving the creativity and distinctiveness of local areas. This is the most efficient system that can guarantee success, and we have high expectations for the capabilities of the regional innovation councils."

President Roh's vision of the 14 regional innovation councils nationwide—which will serve as a central axis for regional and national development through networks of local business leaders, academics, media, government officials, and civic organizations—will finally be completed with Seoul as the last region to establish its council on the 28th.

The Seoul Regional Innovation Council will hold its founding conference with 60 experts from all sectors at Seoul City Hall's Taepyeong Hall on that day and will elect Won Se-hun, First Vice Mayor of Seoul, and Yoon Jin-sik, former Minister of Industry and Resources, as co-chairs.

▲ President Roh Moo-hyun attended the Gyeongnam Regional Innovation Report Meeting held in Changwon, Gyeongnam on March 12 and emphasized the importance of regional innovation councils.

Last year, regional innovation councils were established beginning with Daegu and North Gyeongsan Province in June, followed by North Chungcheong in November. This year, after Gangwon and Incheon in January, regional innovation councils were founded in Gyeonggi, Gwangju and South Jeolla, Daejeon, South Chungcheong, and North Jeolla in February, and established in Gyeongnam, Jeju, Busan, and Ulsan in March.

Notably, Daegu and North Gyeongsan Province as well as Gwangju and South Jeolla strategically established joint innovation councils with neighboring metropolitan autonomous entities.

These councils will deliberate on the feasibility and likelihood of success of regional innovation and development plans, established in five-year units by each city and provincial governor to foster strategic industries that best suit regional characteristics while contributing to national development.

The Presidential Committee on Balanced National Development designated four strategic industries and nine region-related industries to prevent duplication of plans pursued in each region and delivered them to each regional innovation council.

Additionally, consulting services are being provided through the Industrial Research Institute to enable each region to establish plans that are most suitable and feasible for their circumstances.

Currently, regional innovation and development plans from most local governments have undergone deliberation by each regional innovation council, and revised plans have been submitted to the Presidential Committee on Balanced National Development.

The Balanced Development Committee is compiling a "National Balanced Development Five-Year Plan" by consolidating these plans with sectoral plans established by each ministry.

The National Balanced Development Five-Year Plan is scheduled to be reported to the President in June. After final revision and review by the State Council, once confirmed as the final plan, a special national balanced development account reflecting budgets for regional innovation and development plans will be established.

Meanwhile, President Roh Moo-hyun attended the "Gyeongnam Regional Innovation Report Meeting" held in Changwon, Gyeongnam on the morning of March 12 and stated, "Regional balanced development must be a national policy—it cannot be achieved by local governments alone or by the central government alone," emphasizing the importance of regional innovation councils that will play a central role in each region in materializing and realizing innovation strategies.