Global Economic Times

Chungcheongnam-do Province and the Mid-Atlantic Korean American Association Join Forces to Attract Overseas Koreans: KO YONG-CHUL Reporter / Updated : 2025-05-03 07:55:23

Provincial visit from April 28th to May 1st... Inspection of settlement infrastructure for immigration Meeting with Governor Kim Tae-heum on the 29th... "Naepo is optimal for retired Korean Americans to settle" -

Chungcheongnam-do Province and the Mid-Atlantic Korean American Association have agreed to collaborate on attracting and settling Korean Americans in the province, as well as developing tailored programs.

The province announced on the 29th that the Mid-Atlantic Korean American Associations from four regions visited the province for a 3-night, 4-day schedule from the 28th to May 1st.

This visit, which was initiated by Governor Kim Tae-heum's invitation to Mr. Kim Pyung-soon, President of the Council of Korean American Associations in the USA, and Secretary-General Paul Choi as honorary ambassadors during his trip to the United States in January, aimed to discuss cooperation and promotion strategies for attracting Korean Americans and to enhance understanding of the region, including Naepo New Town.

The delegation included representatives from the Council of Korean American Associations in the USA, the Korean American Association of the Northeastern United States, the Korean American Association of the Southwestern United States, and the Korean American Association of the Midwestern United States.

As their first itinerary item on the 29th, the delegation directly inspected the residential infrastructure in Naepo New Town, including the Chungcheongnam-do Provincial Library, Hongye Park, golf courses, sports centers, the Arts Center, the Museum of Art, and Naepo Green Energy facilities, both completed and under construction, and received explanations.

Following this, the delegation met with Governor Kim at the Provincial Office to discuss opinions on the immigration and settlement of Korean Americans.

During the meeting, Governor Kim stated, "The province is preparing and promoting specific implementation plans for the settlement and immigration of Korean Americans in Chungcheongnam-do," and introduced various settlement support programs, including: △ Chungnam-style public rental housing with an option to purchase, "Live Together" △ Senior towns with複合 residential spaces including medical, sports, and park facilities in Cheonan, Gongju, and Boryeong △ Establishment of a Korean American immigration consultation window within the Chungnam America Office to support nationality restoration and real estate acquisition △ Provision of various settlement support programs through the Chungnam Foreign Residents Global Center for early adaptation to Korean culture △ Operation of the "Living in Naepo" program.

Governor Kim further added, "The living conditions will continue to improve with the completion of the sports center this year, the creation of the premium Hongye Park by next year, and the subsequent development of the Provincial Museum of Art, hospitals, and the Arts Center after 2027. Furthermore, we will expedite the second relocation of public institutions, the opening of the Naepo Station on the West Coast Railway Line, and the opening of the nearby Seosan Airport. We request your cooperation in making Chungcheongnam-do a central hub for the immigration of 7.1 million overseas Koreans."

The province plans to establish an immigration consultation window within the Chungnam America Office in Los Angeles (LA) within the first half of this year to ensure the seamless immigration and settlement of overseas Koreans. It also intends to develop and provide customized immigration support programs for Korean Americans through the Chungnam Foreign Residents Global Center, which opened last month.

In addition, the province signed a memorandum of understanding with the Red Point Group, a Korean American-owned business, in January to cooperate in attracting Korean Americans and to promote projects that will allow overseas Koreans to immigrate and settle, such as the development of retirement villages.

The Mid-Atlantic Korean American Association will use this visit as an opportunity to actively promote the residential conditions within the province and the province's support policies and projects to the Korean community in the United States, thereby acting as a bridge between the province and overseas Koreans to encourage the settlement of retired Korean residents in Chungcheongnam-do.

Meanwhile, the delegation is scheduled to visit various potential settlement sites in Naepo New Town, including Live Together, on the 30th and May 1st, and to tour the diverse cultural and tourism attractions in the Hongseong and Yesan regions.