**2026 Taean International Horticultural Healing Expo, Garorim Bay Marine Ecological Park, and Hydrogen City Development Among Key Projects of the 8th Local Government**
Kim Tae-heum, the Governor of Chungnam, is intensifying efforts to showcase ‘Taean, the city of healing and ecology,’ to the world. On the 15th, Governor Kim visited Taean County and announced plans to transform Taean into a future-oriented healing and tourism hub through the successful hosting of the 2026 Taean International Horticultural Healing Expo, the creation of the Garorim Bay Marine Ecological Park, and the establishment of a hydrogen city.
During a visit to Taean as part of his fourth-year tour of counties under the 8th local government, Governor Kim communicated directly with residents and shared his vision for regional development. In a dialogue with local residents held at Taean Cultural and Arts Hall, he emphasized that Taean has the potential to become a future growth hub on the west coast of Chungnam and a center for the healing industry. He committed to ensuring the successful implementation of key projects, including the 2026 Taean International Horticultural Healing Expo, the creation of Garorim Bay Marine Ecological Park, the construction of the Taean-Anseong highway, and the establishment of a hydrogen city.
The Taean International Horticultural Healing Expo, themed ‘A Healthy Future Found in Nature, Horticulture & Healing,’ will be held from April 25 to May 24, 2026, in the Anmyeondo area. The province expects the expo to attract 1.82 million visitors from 40 countries and is preparing it as a global festival linking horticulture and the healing industry. Governor Kim remarked, “This expo will serve as an opportunity for Taean to leap forward as a global resort and healing city.”
Although the Garorim Bay Marine Ecological Park project did not pass the Ministry of Economy and Finance’s feasibility reassessment last year, the province is re-pushing the project by drafting a ‘Comprehensive Plan 2025-2034’. Differentiated strategies for passing the preliminary feasibility study include designating it as a national marine ecological park, increasing conservation rates, and focusing on ventures centered around managing marine protected species.
The Taean-Anseong highway construction project was proposed as a private investment initiative in December last year and is currently undergoing a KDI feasibility study. Upon completion, the traffic accessibility of the Taean area, the only region without a highway in Chungnam, is expected to improve dramatically, bolstering the west coast’s tourism and industrial network.
As the phase-out of coal-fired power plants in Taean approaches, efforts to establish a hydrogen city are gaining momentum. The province is investing a total of 149 billion won in developing hydrogen industry hubs in the cities of Taean, Boryeong, Dangjin, and Seosan, enhancing hydrogen production facilities, and establishing a full-cycle utilization foundation.
Governor Kim also inspected the operation preparation status of the Marine Healing Center, which is being established with a total investment of 31.3 billion won in the Dalsanri area of Nam-myeon. With facilities like seawater pools, therapy rooms, massage rooms, and a salt room, it aims to become a leading marine healing hub domestically, with its opening slated for this year.
During the subsequent expo preparation status meeting, attended by over 60 participants including those from the organizing committee, Taean County, and provincial departments and bureaus, progress was shared and strategies for successful hosting were discussed. Governor Kim stated, “We will concentrate the province’s capabilities on elevating Taean to a premier healing and tourism city on the west coast.”
On the 16th, Governor Kim will continue his fourth-year county visits by heading to Nonsan City.