CHUNGCHEONGNAM-DO — As part of its relentless drive toward successful international gatherings, Chungcheongnam-do has stepped up field inspections for its upcoming 2027 flagship events: the inaugural Island Biennale and the Nonsan World Strawberry Industry Expo.

Koo Bon-young, Vice Governor for Political Affairs of Chungnam Province, visited the main sites in Boryeong’s Wonsando and Nonsan on the 9th to thoroughly evaluate logistical preparations, construction progress, and inter-agency cooperation.

Vice Governor Koo began his inspection tour in Wonsando, Boryeong, alongside Boryeong Deputy Mayor Jang Jin-won and Organizing Committee Secretary-General Ko Hyo-yeol. The officials toured the construction site of the Island Culture and Art Platform, a two-story facility spanning approximately 3,989 square meters slated for completion by the end of the year. During the walkthrough, Koo emphasized the importance of safety and speed in construction, while reviewing public art projects designated for outdoor walls and exhibition blueprints for nearby Sorok Island.

Traffic management and accessibility were also key focal points of the Boryeong visit. Koo inspected the temporary parking lot layout—designed to accommodate around 1,550 vehicles—and evaluated comprehensive transit strategies to prevent traffic congestion. These measures include designating one-way routes near the main venue and implementing crowd-control and parking guidelines around Sonchon Port to ensure seamless mobility for visitors during peak travel seasons.

Moving to Nonsan, Vice Governor Koo inspected the expanded site of the Nonsan Citizens Family Park, which will serve as the main venue for the Strawberry Expo. Accompanied by Lee Zon-kwan, Secretary-General of the Strawberry Expo Organizing Committee, Koo meticulously examined the newly developed land expansion aimed at maximizing spatial efficiency and visitor comfort, urging officials to prioritize safety in facility management.

Following the site tour, a detailed briefing session was held to review the expo's overall progress and exhibition staging strategies. Koo assessed sector-specific preparations and fine-tuned content outlines for individual exhibition halls. Aligned with the expo’s core theme, "K-Berry! Smart Agriculture, Healthy Future," he stressed the need to craft differentiated, hands-on experiential programs that can actively engage attendees.

"Large-scale events like the Island Biennale and the Nonsan Strawberry Expo are not milestones for Chungnam alone, but shared achievements built upon organic collaboration between local municipalities and organizing committees," Vice Governor Koo noted. He urged officials to re-examine current master plans, address any existing shortfalls, and dedicate themselves to a flawless execution.

The provincial government announced that Vice Governor Koo will continue conducting regular on-site inspections to proactively resolve bottlenecks and ensure seamless progress leading up to the events.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]