Kumho Tire, Hampyeong-gun transition committee discuss regional cooperation

Kumho Tire held an on-site briefing Wednesday at the construction site of its Hampyeong factory, located in the Bitgreen National Industrial Complex, for the "Hampyeong Great Transformation Development Committee" — the transition body for the incoming ninth elected Hampyeong-gun administration — the company announced Friday.

The briefing was attended by 11 members of the development committee, including Chairman Kim Hyeong-mo, along with Kumho Tire's Hampyeong Factory Construction Division head Jeong Yeong-mo and team leader Kim Seong-hyeon.

Kumho Tire and the committee reviewed the current status of the factory project and discussed plans for regional development.

During the site inspection, the committee identified the creation of quality jobs for young people as the top priority in addressing the threat of regional population decline.

Kumho Tire agreed on the importance of expanding local talent recruitment, saying it would review related measures and explore ways to build a cooperative framework in which the company and local residents can grow together.

Discussions also covered potential partnership programs aimed at ensuring that development of the large-scale industrial complex translates into tangible benefits for the local economy.

The Hampyeong factory is set to become a key advanced production base for tires for high-performance vehicles, electric vehicles and autonomous driving cars. Founded in 1960, Kumho Tire has expanded into more than 180 countries and posted revenue of 4.7 trillion won ($3.06 billion) in 2025. The arrival of the global company is expected to be a source of pride for local residents.

"The Hampyeong factory will serve as a core production hub responsible for Kumho Tire's future competitiveness and as a catalyst for regional economic development," a company official said. "We will communicate closely with the ninth elected Hampyeong-gun administration and seek ways to fulfill our corporate social responsibility by creating quality jobs and contributing to the shared growth of the region."