Gangwon State Council member Kim Se-jong has formally challenged the provincial government to overhaul its international cooperation framework. During an administrative audit of the International Cooperation Office held on the 5th, Kim argued that the province must move away from diplomacy centered on simple friendship exchanges and the signing of memorandums of understanding (MOU) in favor of a results-oriented approach that directly contributes to regional economic development and income growth for residents.
Proposed Five-Point Strategy for Pragmatic Diplomacy
To support this transition, Kim proposed a "Gangwon-style 5-point pragmatic diplomacy strategy" designed to use the province's unique industrial characteristics and local resources. His recommendations include:
- Future Industry Integration: Utilizing regulatory exemptions to foster global value chains, specifically by pushing for direct technical cooperation between the Wonju medical device and Chuncheon bio clusters and advanced medical regions in Europe and the United States.
- Logistics and Energy: Seeking a leading role for Gangwon in Northeast Asian logistics and clean energy sectors.
- Tourism Branding: Developing stay-based global tourism and cultural diplomacy centered on the province’s “clean wellness” branding.
- Unified Provincial Coordination: Integrating the fragmented international activities of the 18 individual cities and counties. Kim noted that initiatives like the entry of Hoengseong Hanwoo into African and American markets demonstrate the need to weave local efforts together to boost the province’s overall diplomatic capacity.
- Multilayered Cooperation: Building a collaborative system that includes both the local government and private experts to strengthen the province’s diplomatic reach.
Shifting from Exchange to Economic Benefit
Kim emphasized that the province’s future depends on how effectively it secures diplomatic competitiveness in a rapidly changing international environment. He urged officials to move beyond existing work patterns and adopt a comprehensive approach, noting that recent international media coverage of the province’s bio industry has provided a significant momentum that requires specific performance indicators and clear goals.
By shifting to what he described as “locally-led pragmatic diplomacy,” Kim aims to transform Gangwon into a leading model for subnational diplomacy, ensuring that international efforts translate into tangible industrial and economic gains for the region.
