For the young generation, the “K-pop” which had gained global popularity by ranking high in the US Billboard and followed by “K-quarantine” that drew the world’s attention during the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. And now another “K” is being loved by the world and that is “K-food”.
The love for “K-food” has been proved by the increased in the volumes of Korean food even during COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), the agri-food export volumes of the Chungcheongnam-do Province ranked first in Korea as of August 2020.
The ginseng from Geumsan is the pride of K-food in the Province. Since it was registered as one of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) sites by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN (FAO) in 2018, it has become a health supplement for the world.
According to the statement from the Governor of Chungcheongnam Province, Yang Seung-jo, Geumsan entered into a USD7.72 million exports with buyers from Hong Kong, Taiwan and India via Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the 21st International Insam Trade Fair held online last October.
South Chungcheong Province or in Korean language Chungcheongnam-do also known as Chungnam, is a province of South Korea. South Chungcheong has a population of 2,059,871 and has a geographic area of 8,204 km² located in the Hoseo region in the southwest of the Korean Peninsula.
On the community and social aspects, Chungcheongnam-do is becoming the “Capital of Welfare in Korea” by successfully solving three crises namely low birth rate, aging society and social polarization and revitalizing the economy.
Chungnam also provides a good environment,” caring for children”, “happiness for senior citizens and where everybody enjoy a happy life together” are other names and labels for Chungnam, the welfare capital of Korea.
“By progressively coping with the low birth rate, the increase of the aging population and the aggravated social and economic gap, Chungnam has been endeavouring to improve the quality of life of residents,” said Governor Yang Seung-jo.
With a good business environment since 2006, Chungnam has been acting as the driving force for the rapid growth of Korea by achieving an average annual economic growth rate of 5.7%.
Ranked second in export and top in the trade surplus in Korea in 2018, Chungcheongnam-do is filled with investment opportunities with great business environment.
At the international level, Governor Yang Seong-jo had been invited to The Powering Past Coal Global Summit 2021 as an Asian representative (2)
Yang Seung-jo was invited by the PPCA Summit, co-hosted by the Danish government and Bloomberg Philanthropies, as a representative of Asian local governments and introduced the province’s coal phase-out policy.
Governor Yang attended the session “Opportunities of the Race to Net-Zero – Perspectives from the EU and Asia” as a panellist representing Asia on March 4, 2021.
The discussion was held through an online connection between Chungcheongnam-do, Copenhagen, New York, and Amsterdam featured Governor Yang, Carola van Rijnsoever (the Ambassador for Sustainable Development and the Arctic Ambassador at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Netherlands), Hendrik Gordenker (Director, JERA, Japan’s largest utility company), and Ulrik Stridbæk (Head of Regulatory Affairs of Ørsted, the largest utility company of Denmark).
At the Summit, Governor Yang presented the province’s proactive coal-phase out policy, noting that Chungcheongnam-do hosts half of the 60 domestic coal-fired power plants, transmits over 60% of electricity generated by these plants to other provinces, and accounts for 22% of the greenhouse gas emissions by Korea.
Governor Yang listed the tasks to attain the province’s coal phase out goals: (i) employment decline and job conversion of workers; (ii) economic recession due to a crisis in a core regional industry; and (iii) the emergence of the necessity for building eco-friendly power plants that replace coal-fired power plants.
Among these tasks, Yang said that job issues could be addressed by promoting a large-scale renewable energy industry, attracting public institutions, establishing a future industry development plan for job conversion, fostering start-ups, and launching job succession programs.
On another development, Governor Yang stated his clear opposition to the Japanese government’s decision to release radioactively contaminated water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean.
He said: “The Japanese government ignored scientific facts and violated the common sense of the world and humanity. We cannot accept the irresponsible decision of Japan without consultation with Korea, China, and other neighbouring countries.”
Governor Yang emphasized that he will propose the inauguration of a joint cooperative body, like a special committee under the Governors Association of Korea, to prepare a systematic, legal, institutional, and scientific response to the radioactive water release and strengthen political measures by cooperating with 17 local governments. Chungnam will lead these efforts.”
He added: “The decision to release radioactively polluted water represents a declaration of war against the world and the world citizens as well as the Republic of Korea. As the Japanese government threatens the world, we at Chungcheongnam-do will lead the defense against this. We will preserve the oceans of Chungnam, the oceans of Korea, and the world.”
“What is important now is collaboration with the international community and solidarity with world citizens. By working together with the UCLG (United Cities and Local Governments), of which the province is a member, we will attract the cooperation of various international communities,” he said.
Specifically, Governor Yang said, the Under2 Coalition, will lead a joint statement from the international community and ask the IAEA and the WTO to issue a joint response.
To safeguard the ocean and the future of the world community, he made it clear that the province will mobilize all the international resources to face the challenge._ Malaysia World News
