Gyeonggi Governor Nam Kyung-pil Successfully Attracts $120 Million in Investment

A Gyeonggi Province delegation led by Governor Nam Kyung-pil concluded its 10-day visit to the United States from July 25 and returned early morning on August 3.

Governor Nam, who embarked on the U.S. visit aimed at strengthening regional diplomacy and attracting investment, secured $120 million in overseas investment through three investment agreements concluded in New York, Washington D.C., and Los Angeles during the visit.

Governor Nam stated, "The main objectives of this U.S. visit were to strengthen regional diplomacy, attract investment from advanced enterprises, and benchmark safety and job creation," and added, "We have achieved satisfactory regional diplomacy results not only through investment attraction but also through exchanges with important American politicians including the Virginia Governor."

◇ $120 Million in Investment from Three Companies

Breaking down the achievements by sector, on the first day of the visit, July 25, Governor Nam agreed in New York with Simon Property Group and New World Simon to develop a suburban premium outlet mall with over $100 million (approximately 110 billion won) invested on approximately 150,000 square meters in Sangok-dong, Uijeongbu City, Gyeonggi Province.

This is the fourth investment for Gyeonggi Province, following Yeoju, Paju, and Siheung, and ranks second in area after Yeoju. The Uijeongbu premium outlet mall is scheduled to be completed by December 2018, and is expected to create over 1,000 direct jobs and approximately 3,000 indirect employment positions, with anticipated annual tourism of 4 to 5 million visitors, generating significant ripple effects for economic revitalization in the northern Gyeonggi region.

The second investment was made on July 29 in Washington D.C. Governor Nam signed an investment agreement worth $10 million with Air Products, a specialty gas manufacturer for semiconductor production, to build a new factory in Pyeongtaek Oseong Industrial Complex.

Under this agreement, Air Products will invest $10 million (approximately 10 billion won) over the next five years and construct a new factory covering 9,917 square meters (3,000 pyeong) in the Pyeongtaek Oseong foreign investment zone.

The third investment was concluded on August 1 in Los Angeles. Governor Nam agreed with Plumline, an animal pharmaceutical development company, to attract $10 million (approximately 10 billion won) in investment.

Plumline plans to establish a research institute including a manufacturing facility in Pangyo Techno Valley, and in addition to investment, will conduct joint bioresearch collaboration with Gyeonggi Province and Hankyong National University to foster the equine vaccine industry.

Gyeonggi Province expects this investment to contribute not only to developing the domestic horse industry, but also to developing DNA anticancer treatments for pets such as dogs and cats and advancing domestic livestock technology.

With these three investment deals, Gyeonggi Province expects to create approximately 1,000 direct jobs and approximately 3,000 jobs in total when including indirect employment.

◇ Virginia Governor's Return Visit to Gyeonggi and Other Regional Diplomacy Achievements

Notable among the regional diplomacy achievements is the securing of a visit to Gyeonggi Province by Teddy McCulliffe, governor of Virginia and one of America's influential politicians.

On July 28, Governor Nam visited Governor McCulliffe and in discussions about cooperation between the two regions stated, "I hope you will visit Gyeonggi Province and work with us on good investment plans," requesting exchanges and cooperation between the two regions and McCulliffe's return visit.

In response, Governor McCulliffe said, "I will visit Asian regions including China, Japan, and Hong Kong in October. Korea is the most important country, and I plan to visit on October 28 and 29," and added, "I will make sure to visit Gyeonggi Province as Governor Nam has suggested."

Governor Nam also expressed gratitude to Governor McCulliffe, who passed the East Sea Designation Act, stating, "There is a power struggle among neighboring countries surrounding relations with Japan. The traditional friendly relationship with the United States will be even more important going forward," emphasizing enhanced cooperation and friendly relations between the two nations.

At a wreath-laying ceremony for the Memorial to Comfort Women held in Fairfax County, he garnered attention by urging Japan to offer a sincere apology.

Governor Nam formed consensus with Sharon Bloba, Fairfax County Administrator, on the comfort women issue, agreeing that "Japan's sincere apology should come first," and expressed gratitude to Fairfax County, which established the memorial for the first time in a U.S. government building.

Subsequently, with comfort women survivors Grandma Lee Ok-seon (87, Nanuem's House in Gwangju) and Grandma Kang Il-chul (86, Nanuem's House in Gwangju), who are visiting the United States to address the comfort women issue, Governor Nam laid a wreath at the memorial and urged Japan's apology, stating, "If Japan apologizes sincerely, the comfort women grandmothers will also be able to forgive."

On July 30, Governor Nam attended the 'Korean American Grassroots Conference' with Korean-American community activists and Korean local leaders from across the United States, promoting Gyeonggi Province's activities, and met with House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez, and Representative Michael Honda to publicize Gyeonggi Province. In particular, he visited the office of Representative Charles Rangel for informal discussion, emphasizing various expanded exchanges and support with Gyeonggi Province.

◇ Visited LA Emergency Operations Bureau to Study Gyeonggi's Safety Measures

Meanwhile, on August 1, Governor Nam visited the Los Angeles County Emergency Operations Bureau in LA to examine America's disaster management system and review ways to apply it to Gyeonggi Province's safety measures.

The LA Emergency Operations Bureau is a disaster strategy organization that supports response and recovery from disasters, fires, and civil unrest occurring within LA County.

After receiving a briefing on LA County's disaster management system from James Sully, advisor to the Emergency Operations Bureau, Governor Nam stated, "It appears that there is a well-established cooperation system between disaster managers and field workers, between local governments, and between department personnel," and said, "LA County, which oversees 88 cities, shares many similarities in scale with Gyeonggi Province. We will review ways for safety-related civil servants, including the newly appointed Deputy Governor for Safety Planning and the head of the Fire and Disaster Management Headquarters, to engage in exchanges with the LA County Emergency Operations Bureau to study introducing this system to Gyeonggi Province."