Gangwon Miracle
By Bernard Rowan
Recently I interviewed Choi Moon-soon, the governor of Gangwon Province. This cheerful and energetic third-term leader of the province ― with his citizens ― has carried out a small version of the Korean development miracle. The week of the interview (Feb. 7 to 9), he hosted the PyeongChang Peace Forum, dedicated to promoting peace and friendship on the Korean Peninsula and beyond.
Choi is famous for having charted a Peace New Deal in his part of Korea. Gangwon Province is home to over 1.5 million people. It includes a border with North Korea at the DMZ, two of Korea's most famous mountains (Seoraksan and Taebaeksan), rich deposits of iron, fluorite and other minerals, and wonderful local products and cultural traditions.