[Joo Young-jin's News Briefing]
When quoting this interview, please accurately credit the program name 'SBS <Joo Young-jin's News Briefing>'. Copyright belongs to SBS.
■ Broadcast: SBS <Joo Young-jin's News Briefing> Mon–Fri (14:00–15:20)
■ Host: Joo Young-jin, Anchor
■ Guest: Park Chan-dae, Mayor of Incheon
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● Interview
Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon
"Incheon must be revalued at its proper worth... Pursuing 'rerating'"
"Incheon is an epitome of South Korea... Need to leap forward from our strengths"
"Incheon faces border region constraints... We will overcome these limitations"
"G20 joint hosting strategy... Formulated together with the Honam and Chungcheong regions"
"Will create an industrial map linked to quality jobs and high income"
"If the public feels anxiety over the farmland survey, a policy review is necessary"
"Choo Mi-ae's remarks that hurt firefighters' feelings are regrettable"
"Firefighters protect public life and safety... Financial support is essential"
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▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: Over the past year or so, we have interviewed you several times—first as a candidate for the ruling party leadership, then as a candidate for metropolitan local government head. Now, we are interviewing you as the metropolitan mayor. Incheon Mayor Park Chan-dae is here with us. Welcome.
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: Hello.
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: How do you feel? It seems it has been just over 100 days since you took office.
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: I have just passed the 100-day mark.
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: Looking back on the past 100 days, how has it been? Do you feel progress is being made as quickly as you expected? Or do you feel it is not easy?
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: Life as a National Assembly lawmaker and life as the mayor of Incheon Metropolitan City certainly seem quite different.
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: Certainly seem different. Earlier in the video clip, what clearly caught everyone's attention was your mention of "rerating." It sounds like it means re-evaluating, but what does it mean specifically?
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: Let's take another look at Incheon.
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: Take another look.
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: Let's receive its proper value once again.
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: Let's assess Incheon's proper value once again.
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: That is right. This term is also used in economics and the stock market. Shouldn't undervalued blue-chip stocks be evaluated properly and receive their true worth? When people think of "Incheon," they usually refer to it simply as part of the capital region.
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: That is true. People say Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon.
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: It is evaluated as Seoul, then Gyeonggi, and then Incheon. Then what kind of potential and future value does Incheon truly hold? Do our Incheon citizens properly recognize and appreciate that? In that respect, now is the time when rerating Incheon is essential. Incheon has done remarkably well so far. However, how will we overcome the remaining challenges ahead? Thus, our role as a sustainable city is truly vital. That is why I used the word "rerating" at the 100-day press conference.
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: In terms of proper value, there are various areas. Which aspect of proper value did you particularly focus on for Incheon?
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: First of all, Incheon as a self-sufficient city, and its potential for future development. Especially at this point, moving away from the capital-region unipolar system under the "5 Megaregions and 3 Special Zones" framework toward balanced national development, Incheon must clearly fulfill its role of maintaining international competitiveness and leading South Korea's overall growth by finding strengths where it can excel—even amidst the double burdens of capital-region regulations and being marginalized for not being a non-capital province. So what are Incheon's strengths? In what direction should it develop? I raised this with the message, "Let's rerate Incheon together with our citizens."
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: If we are now at the stage of beginning this rerating, as you mentioned, what are Incheon's strengths, and how do we develop them? You probably have such a blueprint in mind. What are Incheon's strengths?
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: Incheon's strength is that, since the opening of its port in 1883, it has been an epitome of South Korea, spanning its modernization, industrialization, democratization, and high cultural standards. Incheon, which once had a population of 30,000, has grown more than ten-thousand-fold—more than a hundredfold—to 3 million over 140 years, hasn't it? When asking, "Can Incheon sustainably continue like this in the future?", I believe we need to take the strengths Incheon possesses to the next level. That is why I am currently pondering how we can advance Incheon's future industrial map a step further without competing against other regions. Broadly, I am looking at two things.
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: Two things.
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: One is that Incheon faces constraints as part of the capital region; the other is that it also faces constraints from national division and security. While one could say it has developed this far because it is in the capital area, how will we avoid being marginalized in regional-led growth in the future precisely because it is part of the capital region? Another aspect is the sea off Incheon as a border area. How will our Incheon overcome the limitations of being a border area?
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: For many people, Incheon might not immediately come to mind when thinking of a border region, realistically.
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: If you look at events like the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island, it is clear that Incheon is a border area where the North and South directly confront each other, only without a physical armistice line. There are considerable restrictions on residents' lives. We are deeply contemplating how to transform this into a peace regime and lead Incheon's future development alongside changes in the Korean Peninsula situation. For the two approaches, one was proposing the "East-West Peace Logistics Expressway" that can connect Gangwon Province, northern Gyeonggi Province, and Incheon as a single border zone.
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: The Peace Logistics Expressway. Are you placing more importance on the movement of goods than people when you call it a "logistics" expressway?
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: Naturally, people will travel along it, but we are also incorporating the industrial aspect of "logistics." This is part of the major arterial road plan, with a plan to connect Goseong in Gangwon Province to Ganghwa Island in Incheon.
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: Is it what they call the 155 miles? It traverses the Korean Peninsula from east to west, doesn't it?
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: That is right. But here, if we connect Ganghwa Island to Yeongjong Island, where Incheon International Airport is located, and connect Goseong to Sokcho, we can jointly develop routes for both people and logistics in the border region.
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: Has it begun? Is it being pursued? Has a specific budget been allocated?
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: No, currently the governors of Gangwon and Gyeonggi and the mayor of Incheon are actively working on this, making every effort to reflect it in our road network plan.
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: Have you discussed this with Governor Choo Mi-ae and Governor Woo Sang-ho?
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: Yes. In particular, Governor Woo Sang-ho emphasizes this whenever he meets with ministers and vice ministers. We are pursuing this in the spirit of solidarity between Incheon, located in the capital region, and neighboring areas. Another point is that the G20 will be held in November 2028.
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: Right now, various local cities are saying, "We will host it." Busan hosted it during the past Roh Moo-hyun administration and seems to be challenging for it again. Is Incheon also challenging for it?
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: Incheon is doing so as well. However, Incheon is in the capital region, isn't it? In case there might be any disadvantage, we are maximizing the strengths Incheon possesses, such as transportation accessibility and infrastructure.
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: Arriving via Incheon International Airport right away.
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: Right. Practically speaking, it is the most suitable location, and we aim to share the economic and social effects generated by the G20 with neighboring regions. Therefore, we are employing a strategy to work together with the Chungcheong or Honam regions.
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: If Incheon hosts the G20, what kind of things could be done together with the Chungcheong or Honam regions for an event like the G20?
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: Usually, the G20 does not involve only the summit. There are ministerial and vice-ministerial meetings.
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: That is true.
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: Working-level meetings are held around 100 times over the course of a year.
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: Because economic ministers gather separately in advance and so on.
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: That is right. So we can do things together with North Chungcheong Province, and also with North Jeolla Province. Opening the diplomatic path together through the West Coast Belt is what I presented at the press conference marking my 100th day in office, along with the East-West Peace Logistics Expressway and the North-South G20 joint bid strategy.
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: Listening to you now, it seems Mayor Park Chan-dae is employing a strategy where Incheon's own independent capabilities are important, but seeking and developing together in solidarity and alliance with other local governments is also key.
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: In fact, when it comes to presenting Incheon's future industrial map independently by further capitalizing on its strengths, there is the "ABC+E" strategy.
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: The ABC+E strategy. What is that?
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: "A" refers to AI, "B" to bio, "C" to content and culture, and "E" to energy. There is an AI craze right now, isn't there? But what is the AI that Incheon is pursuing? One of Incheon's greatest strengths is having the Port of Incheon and Incheon International Airport. Roads and railways began in Incheon. It can be said that nowhere has as much strength as Incheon as a logistics city. If we apply AI to this, it naturally leads to logistics AI and then physical AI, which in turn connects to connected car projects linked to the future automotive industry. To make that possible, cybersecurity is also linked, which is Incheon's future industrial strategy that can be pursued alongside other regions. That is "A." "B" is already well known, but Songdo in Incheon is home to many anchor bio companies. While we have significant strengths in contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) and biosimilars, that alone does not provide enough added value. We will emphasize and foster research and development to produce future novel drugs. "C" stands for culture; right now, South Korea's K-culture is tremendous, isn't it? People enter through Incheon and depart through Incheon. Rather than remaining a mere stopover, we will turn Incheon into a place that gathers K-culture and attracts people. "E" is supplying offshore wind energy from the waters off Incheon to places in need. We are proceeding this way, and since these four further enhance Incheon's unique strengths that can foster coexistence with other regions, as I mentioned earlier, Incheon will draw its own industrial map while standing in solidarity across the east, west, south, and north. This approach pursues not only balanced national development but also economic growth, breaking away from the capital-region unipolar system so that everyone can prosper together. That is what I want to say.
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: Listening to you now, Mayor Park, the ABC+E strategy is certainly worth pursuing and would be of tremendous help to Incheon if successful. However, Incheon citizens might ask what specific changes this will bring to their lives, what the action plan is, and how many years it will take to become visible and tangible. It seems necessary to present this to the citizens of Incheon.
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: Exactly. The decisive motivation for pondering this was twofold: first, under the regional-led growth framework of "5 Megaregions and 3 Special Zones," how Incheon can leverage the advantages of the capital region while also fostering balanced national development; and second, because it is part of the capital region, young people in Incheon or those who studied here face considerable limitations in finding good careers and jobs in Incheon. Balanced development between original downtown areas and new town districts, or expanding the regional transportation network, are ongoing issues for Incheon, but ultimately, I believe creating an industrial map that leads to good jobs and high income is what matters. For "A," I mentioned the strength of connecting to future vehicles through logistics AI, and we also have substantial strength in bio. In order to enable drug manufacturing here, despite capital-region restrictions, I believe we must establish the Incheon Institute of Science and Technology for Bio to build a new drug manufacturing ecosystem.
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: And you could also actually collaborate with pharmaceutical companies and biotech firms, couldn't you?
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: In fact, we are signing an MOU with a big pharma company this week, and the week before last, we established the "K-Bio Lab Hub" in Songdo International City. Anchor companies are showing great interest, so we just need to build the ecosystem and establish the R&D base, but that truly requires the full support of the central government. We also intend to show solidarity with Osong in North Chungcheong Province, sharing data and working together. We do not intend to go it alone in Incheon. In particular, regarding the content sector, Incheon has Munhak Stadium.
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: Right.
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: If the soccer and baseball stadiums there become independent, that site will become vacant. We are exploring ways to build a world-class performance venue there to revitalize K-content and digitally integrate that content. Another area is offshore wind energy; we are currently creating an offshore wind farm in the waters off Ongjin. If this proceeds sequentially, it will definitely create opportunities to open up good jobs and future industries, but there are things that must be pursued right now. We need to move forward immediately with the Incheon Institute of Science and Technology for Bio. There is also the certification center connected to connected cars and winning national projects. Furthermore, around this year or next year, we will need to proceed with a public contest project to attract an arena to Munhak Stadium. We must also work to make offshore wind even more of a reality. We are conducting tangible industry initiatives in Incheon, and I believe this will inevitably connect not only to jobs for young people, but also to restructuring the national industrial complexes linked to Namdong Industrial Complex, Juan, and Bupyeong.
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: Listening to you speak, Mayor Park, it felt as though someone asked an AI, "What should be done for Incheon to develop?" and the AI organized and presented everything thoroughly—it felt very well prepared and structured. As you said, to what extent do you think tangible results can be achieved among the things you mentioned within four years?
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: I believe we are laying the stepping stones one by one right now. For new drug manufacturing, the research phase is essential, which is why establishing the Incheon Institute of Science and Technology for Bio is necessary. And regarding AI, what we are doing is that we have launched an alliance for the AX platform, and an alliance of companies and research institutes related to connected cars is currently underway. Public contest projects are also in progress. So you can see that we are at a stage where these are being resolved one by one. Within the short four-year period given to me, sufficient blueprints and implementation strategies are being realized one by one. The question is how to properly match this with the central government and financial resources, which is what we are contemplating.
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: Right, understood. You are currently serving as the president of the Governors Association of Korea, aren't you?
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: That is correct.
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: Let me briefly ask you a question regarding current issues. There are quite a few farmlands and farmers in Incheon as well, aren't there?
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: There are farmers. Ganghwa Island and so on.
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: Critical and dissatisfied voices are emerging due to the complete enumeration survey of farmland. How are you listening to these opinions, and how do you plan to convey them to the central government?
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: From the central government's perspective, because there have hardly been any complete surveys of farmland until now, I understand their good intentions and policy rationale of verifying data through an accurate farmland survey and determining how to carry out future farmland policy.
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: It seems to mean verifying the principle of "land to the tiller."
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: Regarding that, if there is anxiety among farmers or the public, wouldn't it be necessary to review the policy once more and make special efforts to increase public acceptance? Rather than the government pushing unilaterally a policy it deems right, taking an approach that increases acceptance among the sovereign public is what is required in South Korean democracy today. Therefore, I clearly believe there is a need to adjust it properly, taking into account the public's misunderstandings and emotional acceptance regarding this farmland survey.
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: This might be uncomfortable, but Governor Choo Mi-ae has faced considerable criticism recently over her "firefighters sucking resources like a straw" remark, and today, a memorial service was held for a firefighter who died in the line of duty. Incheon must be in a similar situation. There are many firefighting civil servants in Incheon, and even though they were transitioned to national civil servant status, local governments still bear the personnel costs. What are your thoughts on Governor Choo's remark, and how do you think their working conditions should be improved?
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: In a situation where a firefighter recently died in the line of duty in the Bucheon fire incident, it is regrettable that there were remarks that hurt firefighters' feelings. I recall that apologies were offered from the political sphere regarding that matter. It is truly vital to financially support firefighters who protect the public's lives and safety and battle the flames. Therefore, securing financial resources is a clear objective for all 16 local governments. However, even though this has changed from local affairs to national and central affairs, the financial burden still remains entirely on local governments. Taking this as an opportunity, I believe we should fully exchange opinions with the central government and pursue policy improvements so that sufficient firefighting funds can be secured. As of 2026, the local firefighting budget is 8.6 trillion won. Out of that, national support accounts for only about 10%, around 900 billion won. So rather than the central government and local authorities playing a ping-pong game against each other, we must find a way to secure sufficient firefighting finances and reach a consensus to expand not just personnel expenses, but also firefighting equipment and safety-enhancing facilities. That is what I think.
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: I hope these opinions will be reflected in the regular National Assembly session's budget review and decision-making process this year.
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: I think they will probably be sufficiently reflected this time. Although the government budget bill has already been submitted, I expect voices will be raised strongly during the National Assembly's review process to make decisions on budget increases.
▷ [Anchor] Joo Young-jin: Understood. That was an interview with Incheon Mayor Park Chan-dae on rerating to assess Incheon's proper value. Thank you for your time.
▶ [Interview] Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: Thank you.
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