Local governments to showcase regional economy innovations in Gangneung

An event bringing together local governments and public institutions from across the country to showcase their regional economic innovation policies and best practices will be held in Gangneung.

Regional economies often follow a different growth pattern than Seoul, the Greater Seoul area and Korea's major export cities. Beyond high-tech industries centered on parts and materials, they rely more on region-specific industries, lifestyle products such as food and K-beauty, and cooperative-style joint export entities alongside corporate ones. Sharing best practices among local governments offers relatable insights for reviving regional economies and further boosts synergy across regions.

The 2026 Regional Economy Innovation Expo will be held Sept. 17-18 at the Gangneung Olympic Park Speed Skating Arena.

The expo is organized by the Ministry of Interior and Safety and the Local Public Enterprise Evaluation Institute, among others. It is designed to share the innovation achievements local governments and public institutions have pursued to revitalize regional economies and to spread best policies nationwide.

The exhibition will cover four key themes: social solidarity and shared growth through sunlight income villages, village enterprises, youth villages and social cooperatives, and region-led balanced development addressing population decline and local extinction, including the hometown love donation system, fair-price stores and local gift certificates. It will also cover disaster safety prevention and response, such as stream and valley maintenance and safety inspections, and AI-driven regional innovation, including public services powered by artificial intelligence.

Gangwon Province plans to operate a "Gangwon Integrated Pavilion," involving the province, its cities and counties, and its affiliated institutions, to promote the vision of its ninth popularly elected administration and Gangwon's future growth strategy nationwide.

Under the vision of "Making Gangwon Special, Making Residents Happy," the pavilion will introduce the three main provincial goals and key policies of the ninth elected administration. The first is "Clean Gangwon," which connects the region's pristine nature to new industries and resident income. The second is "Youth Gangwon," which drives AI and future industries along with youth jobs, employment, startups and settlement support. The third is "Peace Gangwon," which creates new growth engines through deregulation of border areas and the creation of peace economic special zones.

In detail, the province will focus on promoting key policies that link Gangwon's resources and future industries to regional income and jobs. These include the clean energy highway and Gangwon forest economy. The province also plans to attract advanced industries such as AI data centers, alongside youth job creation and support for youth employment, startups, housing and settlement. It also aims to establish peace economic special zones.

Alongside this, the pavilion will feature the province's strategy for attracting AI data centers as a future growth engine. It will also showcase policies to revitalize the social solidarity economy, such as sunlight income villages aimed at a virtuous cycle between resident income and the regional economy. Additional content will highlight local specialty products, tourism resources, and flagship policies from individual cities, counties and institutions.

The opening ceremony will take place Thursday, along with the 22nd Korea Local Government Management Grand Prix, commendation awards for the 21st Local Public Institution Day, and presentations of best practices in regional economic revitalization.

On Sept. 18, a job fair for local college students and job seekers will be held, along with a "Gangwon Youth Talent Skill-Up" lecture introducing successful local business strategies built on regional resources.

Gangwon Province plans to use the expo as a platform for policy exchange and cooperation among local governments and public institutions nationwide, while actively promoting Gangneung and Gangwon's tourism attractions, food and local products to visitors from across the country to help boost local consumption and tourism.