Shin Yong-han drives startup-special Chungbuk to become Korea’s second Pangyo

On the 9th (local time) in Shenzhen, China, North Chungcheong Gov. Shin Yong-han said this in an interview with ChosunBiz. Shin said, "I will make North Chungcheong a place where young people can work, start businesses, and even enjoy leisure," adding, "The goal is to expand Pangyo's industry and startup ecosystem to North Chungcheong."

Shin said that in the 100 days since taking office, he achieved investment attraction results such as SK hynix(000660) 100 trillion won, Celltrion(068270) 2 trillion won, and 녹십자 530 billion won. During this visit to China, he also signed a 430 billion won investment agreement with Longbai, a battery materials company. Shin emphasized, however, that what matters more than the investment amount is creating a virtuous cycle in which corporate investment leads to local jobs, income, and consumption.

As the core policy to achieve this, Shin put forward "North Chungcheong, a special province for startups." The plan is not merely to attract corporations but to build an ecosystem where young people can start and grow businesses in North Chungcheong. He said, "It can take five, seven, or even more years for startup results to emerge," adding, "Even if it is hard to show results within my term, I will focus on creating an environment where young people do not leave North Chungcheong and can keep challenging themselves."

Shin visited China from the 8th to the 10th for three days and two nights to attend the "2026 Korea Business Expo Shenzhen," co-hosted by the World Federation of Overseas Korean Traders Associations (World-OKTA) and the Shenzhen Merchants Association. On the expo floor, he held a North Chungcheong investment briefing himself and joined regional corporations' booths as a sales helper, ramping up "North Chungcheong sales." The following is a Q&A with Shin.

─ You marked 100 days in office on the 8th. You have emphasized revitalizing the regional economy. What results have you achieved?

"In the 100 days since taking office, we attracted a total of 103.7 trillion won in investment: SK hynix 100 trillion won, Celltrion 2 trillion won, Green Cross 530 billion won, and China's Longbai 430 billion won. That means attracting 1 trillion won a day."

─ You were active enough to hold an in-person investment briefing in Shenzhen, China. What is your goal going forward?

"Attracting investment is a first-stage buildup. My No. 1 pledge is 'North Chungcheong, a special province for startups.' Politically, leading with startups can look foolish. It takes five, seven years or more for results to show, so it is hard to deliver within a term. Still, I am focusing on startups to keep young people from leaving for the Seoul metropolitan area. I will build an environment where they can freely take on challenges and start businesses in North Chungcheong."

─ Do you mean that actual job growth is more important than attracting investment?

"We should not stop at investment that exists only as numbers. Jobs are the key. Corporate investment must lead to jobs and income growth. More important is a structure where money earned in the region is spent in the region. Even in Cheongju, many effectively live within the Seoul metropolitan sphere and go to Seoul to spend. We need to build a virtuous cycle that boosts local spending and improves residents' quality of life."

─ Cultural and leisure facilities are also important for young people to settle in North Chungcheong.

"From the perspective of startups, jobs, and work-life balance, I am looking at Pangyo. Pangyo gathers corporations and talent and has the living conditions in place. The goal is to pull down the so-called 'semi-Pangyo' heating limit line to North Chungcheong. We will make it so that in North Chungcheong, too, young people can work, start businesses, and enjoy culture and leisure."

─ What is needed to make North Chungcheong a 'second Pangyo'?

"We need to use finances efficiently. Governors with political backgrounds often prioritize equal distribution, but I believe efficiency matters. We should not simply dole out limited finances but use them as priming water. I will focus on policies that residents can feel are changing things."

─ You stood out for personally selling products from regional corporations at the expo.

"I came to hear the difficulties of businesspeople and help them develop overseas sales channels. Me holding up products and saying 'Pick one, pick one' may look playful. But for businesspeople, just having the governor personally promote their products is a big boost. I want to lift the spirits of regional corporate leaders."

─ How do you assess the growth of China's electric vehicle and battery industries?

"Globally, a chasm has appeared with EV demand slowing. In Korea, EV fires, and in the United States, policies under the Trump administration affected our corporations. Meanwhile, China did not stop; it sprinted ahead. The gap has widened to the point that it is now hard to catch up. We should not dismiss China as in the past. We must learn what we can and actively benchmark."

─ What in particular should we learn from Chinese corporations?

"In the past, we, too, took on challenges with a hungry spirit, and that built today's Republic of Korea. But now our sense of urgency and fighting spirit have weakened. Our attitude toward work must change first. When we work, we must work like mad. With a sense of calling and mission, we must compete fiercely again."

─ Besides attracting investment, what other schedule did you keep during this visit to China?

"There are commitments related to an investment fund. I also visited institutions in Shenzhen to study urban regeneration policies. I will review the technological progress of advanced corporations and seek industrial and urban development measures that can be applied in North Chungcheong."