After unveiling the People Power Party’s “Seven Visions” and 15 city- and county-level pledges for the ninth elected term, Chungnam gubernatorial candidate Kim Tae-heum launched a “Chungnam One Team” policy tour, beginning in Yesan and Hongseong.
On the 10th, Kim held consecutive policy agreement ceremonies with Yesan County magistrate candidate Choi Jae-gu and Hongseong County magistrate candidate Park Jung-ju. They committed to jointly pursue expansion of Naepo Innovation City, strengthen education, medical, and cultural infrastructure, and promote smart agriculture and the green-bio industry.
Through the pacts, Kim said he will share core pledges with People Power Party local head candidates across the province’s 15 cities and counties and coordinate provincial and local administrations to improve implementation. The first stop took place in Yesan and Hongseong, which together encompass the provincial government seat at Naepo Innovation City.
The Yesan ceremony took place at Choi’s campaign office. Kim and Choi agreed to a package that includes expanding Naepo New City and attracting public agencies; securing a unified Daejeon–Chungnam administrative office; completing a green-bio industrial complex; establishing a Chungnam Agricultural Products Distribution Corporation within a smart-agriculture development zone; launching an agricultural broadcasting station; creating a Naepo community sports town; revitalizing Gayasan Provincial Park; and building a Hanji restoration center associated with the Louvre Museum.
Kim emphasized that expanding Naepo New City is a core priority in Yesan. “For Naepo to mature properly as the provincial seat, we must pursue a plan that advances Hongseong and Yesan together,” he said. “I will transform Naepo into an administrative hub with a population of 200,000.”
As a development strategy for Yesan, Kim proposed industrializing agriculture and attracting businesses. “Under the current agricultural structure, it’s difficult to encourage young people to move to rural areas,” he said. “We must create a profitable agricultural model through smart farming, green bio, and agro–bio convergence clusters.”
He added that the Chungnam Agricultural Products Distribution Corporation is intended to support exports as well as domestic sales. “We will build a system to prevent price declines and increase farm incomes,” he said.
Choi outlined plans to establish Sapgyo Station, attract Celltrion, revitalize Deoksan Hot Springs, and support flood recovery. He thanked Kim for his provincial-level support. “Governor Kim Tae-heum played a major role in laying the groundwork for Yesan’s future—Naepo Station, Celltrion, and the agro–bio convergence cluster,” Choi said.
The Hongseong ceremony was held at Park’s campaign office. Kim and Park agreed to pursue initiatives including preparing a growth framework to expand Naepo to a population of 200,000 by 2040; establishing a science magnet school affiliated with the national science institute; building Naepo campuses for Chungnam National University and Konyang University; constructing a children’s specialty hospital; opening public postpartum care centers; completing the Chungnam Arts Center and an art museum; operating M-bus routes between Naepo–Cheonan and Naepo–Sejong–Daejeon; creating a Hongseong pet testing and evaluation center; and launching a Chungnam citizens’ university.
Kim identified education infrastructure as central to improving local livability. “For a city to grow, good housing alone isn’t enough; it also needs education, medical care, and cultural institutions,” he said. “We will materially improve Naepo’s livability through a KIST-affiliated science magnet school, a Chungnam National University Naepo campus, and a children’s specialty hospital.”
He also described the process of securing a Chungnam National University Naepo campus. Although administrative boundary issues had made it difficult for the university to invest in Naepo, Kim said he met with the prime minister and relevant ministers to request legal changes, which ultimately cleared the way. “Producing results—not just words—is what matters,” he said.
In Hongseong, Kim expressed confidence in Park. “I worked with Park Jung-ju as chief of staff and deputy governor and have observed his competence and character,” he said. “If Park becomes county magistrate, he can accelerate Hongseong’s development by a decade.”
Targeting the Democratic Party’s so‑called prosecution‑dismissal special prosecutor bill, Kim warned that erasing cases pending before someone became president would shake the foundations of the rule of law and liberal democracy. “If local power also shifts to one side, checks and balances could collapse,” he said.
Park said, “Under the eighth elected administration, Chungnam demonstrated new momentum in securing national funding, attracting investment, flood recovery, and university recruitment. Together with Kim Tae-heum, I will accelerate Hongseong’s progress.”
In closing, Kim appealed for unified support from local candidates. “A leader is someone who delivers results through action and bold decisions, not just words,” he said. “I urge People Power Party mayors, county heads, and provincial and county council candidates to work together so they can perform effectively at the local level.”
