CRI

 [ABSTRACT]

With the inauguration of the Lee Jae-myung administration, the national policy paradigm of the Republic of Korea has shifted decisively toward citizen sovereignty, balanced regional development, and structural economic transformation. Central to this agenda are the “123 National Policy Tasks” and the “5 Mega-regions and 3 Special Provinces (5+3) Strategy,” which together provide an integrated framework for fiscal allocation, large-scale national projects, regulatory reform, and institutional restructuring. Within this evolving policy environment, local governments are required to respond proactively by aligning regional development strategies with national priorities in order to secure policy legitimacy, financial resources, and long-term growth opportunities.

This study aims to formulate a comprehensive response strategy for Chungcheongbuk-do (Chungbuk Province) by systematically analyzing the Lee administration’s national policy tasks and identifying their strategic relevance to regional conditions. Particular attention is given to Chungbuk’s position within the Chungcheong mega-region, where intensified competition for resources and the risk of spatial polarization—centered on Daejeon and Sejong—necessitate the establishment of a distinctive and autonomous regional growth axis. Leveraging its geographical location in the central inland area and the institutional potential of the Special Act for the Central Inland Region, Chungbuk is examined as a critical connective hub linking the “5 Mega-regions” and “3 Special Provinces” into a coherent national development network.

Methodologically, the study conducts an in-depth policy analysis of the 123 national tasks and the 144 detailed initiatives under the 5+3 strategy, assessing their compatibility with Chungbuk’s industrial structure, spatial characteristics, demographic conditions, and existing development plans. Through this process, regionally relevant policy opportunities are identified, and local issues are reframed as nationally significant projects that contribute to the successful implementation of the government’s balanced growth agenda. The analysis further classifies policy responses into four strategic axes—structural foundation, growth engine, regional vitality, and sustainability and trust—providing an integrated framework for policy execution.

Based on these findings, the study proposes ten flagship mega-projects designed to function as symbolic and practical instruments for aligning Chungbuk’s development trajectory with national policy goals. These projects span advanced manufacturing and bio-health innovation, AI-driven industrial and administrative transformation, transportation and logistics connectivity, energy transition and carbon neutrality, human capital development, rural revitalization, cultural tourism, and regional investment and financial circulation. Collectively, they are intended to strengthen Chungbuk’s role as a core inland growth hub, enhance its competitiveness within the mega-regional system, and maximize the effectiveness of early-stage national budget allocation.

In conclusion, this study provides a strategic roadmap for synchronizing Chungbuk’s provincial governance with the Lee administration’s national policy framework. By emphasizing early engagement, actionable project design, and a clear national contribution narrative, the proposed strategy seeks to secure fiscal resources, institutional support, and sustainable development outcomes. The findings offer policy-relevant insights not only for Chungbuk but also for other non-metropolitan regions seeking to navigate and capitalize on Korea’s evolving model of decentralized and balanced national development.