Lee Hyo-jin covers the Bank of Korea, the banking industry and broader financial news. Her previous beats include foreign affairs, North Korea and general reporting on Korean society.
INTERVIEW North Chungcheong Province steps up efforts to attract foreign professionals
North Chungcheong Province Gov. Kim Young-hwan speaks during an interview with The Korea Times in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, Tuesday. Courtesy of North Chungcheong provincial government
By Lee Hyo-jin
Gov. Kim Young-hwan promotes province as global hub of connectivity
CHEONGJU, North Chungcheong Province — North Chungcheong Province is positioning itself as an emerging hub of Korea’s global outreach, stepping up efforts to attract foreign residents and seasoned specialists, Gov. Kim Young-hwan said Tuesday.
In an interview with The Korea Times on the sidelines of the Korea Local Diplomacy Forum in Cheongju, Kim said that the centrally located province aims to build a global network through deeper cooperation with cities abroad.
"Our province lies at the heart of Korea, which is historically known as Jungwon (central region), and has long served as a key axis of connectivity and expansion. With Cheongju International Airport rapidly strengthening links to major cities across Asia, the province is ideally positioned to function as a forward base for Korea's local diplomacy," the governor said.
The forum — co-hosted by the North Chungcheong provincial government, The Hankook Ilbo and its sister paper, The Korea Times — brought together government officials and experts to examine how municipal diplomacy might help revive regional cities, a strategy increasingly seen as vital to balanced national growth.
Kim stressed that the event provided a timely platform to showcase the province's strengths to foreign participants.
"Through this event, we aim to actively promote the province's potential for investment, research and industrial cooperation to foreign local governments and diplomatic missions in Korea," he said.
"We expect this to generate tangible economic outcomes, including helping our local companies expand overseas, connecting them with global demand and exploring new partners abroad."
A key feature of the forum was the briefing session led by provincial government officials, who outlined North Chungcheong Province's industrial landscape, investment environment, tourism resources and foreign resident support policies.
Attracting experts from abroad has become an urgent priority for the central province as it grapples with a rapidly shrinking population.
The K-International Student Program, the province’s flagship initiative, offers specialized visa pathways with reduced financial thresholds, while its Study in Chungbuk platform consolidates admissions information for 18 universities across the region.
The governor also said that strengthening ties through twinning programs with provincial governments in other countries — including Benguet province in the Philippines, Yamanashi prefecture in Japan, Heilongjiang province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in China, and Phu Tho province in Vietnam — will be a major focus next year.
"We will explore measures to establish cooperation projects tailored to the needs of each partner city," Kim said.
"In particular, with the 30th anniversary of our sisterhood with Heilongjiang province approaching in 2026, this will serve as a starting point for joint commemorative projects and deeper policy collaboration. We also plan to accelerate people-to-people and cultural exchanges with the city, building on our international student programs and tourism initiatives."