Woo Sang-ho, governor-elect of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, said Thursday that reviving the province's struggling economy would be his top priority, pledging to govern with an "economy-first" approach.
"The people of Gangwon have ordered change, and that mandate drove this victory — I will deliver dramatic transformation," Woo said. He added that while he would respect and uphold the decision to relocate the provincial government headquarters — a central issue during the campaign — he would consult widely with experts to reach a final plan that minimizes the burden on residents.
Woo covered some 4,000 kilometers during the campaign, visiting all corners of Gangwon Province. "Over the past 100-plus days, I traveled across all 18 cities and counties of Gangwon Province, and every moment spent with the people here was a joy," he said. "I will set aside conflict and focus first on unity and the livelihoods of residents."
— What is the most important priority for your administration going forward?
I will do everything I can to attract industries, create jobs and improve living conditions so that young people return to Gangwon. I will work to fulfill every campaign pledge I made, one by one. I will devote all my energy to building a unified Gangwon Province that embraces even those who did not support me.
— What is your position on the relocation of the provincial office to Goeun-ri and the development of an administrative complex town?
I will respect and uphold the decision to relocate the provincial office in the interest of administrative continuity. But as you know, Gangwon Province's economic situation is very difficult right now. Small business owners and ordinary residents are facing extremely harsh realities. We also have to consider the hollowing-out of the old city center that would result from the relocation. I believe the move should only begin after the old downtown economy has been revitalized, or at least after a clear plan for doing so is firmly in place. The new provincial office building requires an investment of 500 billion won (about $330 million), and my position remains unchanged: that money should first be used as seed funding to lift Gangwon's economy. The provincial office is the administrative heart of Gangwon Province. Fiscal soundness, residents' convenience and regional balance must all be weighed together. As I promised during the campaign, I will consult thoroughly with experts and reach a final decision in a direction that minimizes the burden on residents.
— What are your plans for campaign pledges such as attracting AI data center companies worth up to 70 trillion won to Gangneung and luring aerospace industry firms to Wonju?
The AI data center project planned for the area between Gangneung and Donghae is not simply an investment attraction effort — it is the starting point for a Gangwon-style advanced industry ecosystem that extends to related industries and the cultivation of young talent. I will meet with major companies and work through the final details. The aerospace sector in the Wonju area can also become an important foundation for building future industrial competitiveness. As I said during the campaign, I will move quickly to bring corporate investment to fruition — including the AI data center in the Gangneung area and aerospace companies in the Wonju area.
— What will you tackle first?
I will immediately focus on people's livelihoods and economic recovery. Once I take office as governor, I will launch an emergency economic task force right away to dramatically revive Gangwon's faltering economy. Over the long term, I will work to attract more large corporations and advanced companies. I will carry out everything I have promised and prepared — carefully and thoroughly — so that people can say, "Electing Woo Sang-ho has clearly made a difference."
— How do you reflect on the campaign, and what is your mindset going forward?
This victory was possible because so many people set aside competition and partisan lines and united behind the single goal of Gangwon's development. Above all, I owe this victory to the volunteers and campaign workers who campaigned tirelessly under the blazing sun, and to the residents of all 18 cities and counties who warmly took my hand on the campaign trail. The most decisive factor was the support of symbolic figures from the conservative camp — including former Governor Lee Gwang-jae, former Governor Choi Moon-soon, who worked day and night on the ground as if it were his own cause, former Deputy Governor for Political Affairs Choi Heung-jip, and former Assembly member Yeom Dong-yeol — all of whom crossed partisan lines solely for the future of Gangwon. I will responsibly follow through on every promise I made so that residents can feel in their daily lives that Gangwon Province is changing. I want to create a special chapter in Gangwon's history together with its people.
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