Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province has rallied region‑wide resolution to advance as the capital of future industries centered on Physical AI. Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) and Jeonbuk Special Self‑Governing Province (Governor Lee Won‑taek) held the 'Jeonbuk Special Self‑Governing Province Physical AI Major Leap Forward Rally' on the 26th at Jinsudang Hall, JBNU, and agreed to join forces to establish a Saemangeum Physical AI industrial cluster and to strengthen JBNU's innovation capabilities to cultivate local talent.

The event was organized to consolidate the province's aspirations for strategic industries and the development of a regional flagship national university ahead of the government's announcement of the 'Growth Engine‑Linked Local Talent Development Plan,' commonly referred to as the 'Create 10 Seoul National Universities' initiative. About 400 people attended, including local political leaders, representatives of Jeonbuk Special Self‑Governing Province, officials from 14 cities and counties in the province, industry, research institutes, university members, and residents, to share the vision for Jeonbuk's major leap forward.

The central theme of the day was Physical AI. Participants agreed that Physical AI — the integration of artificial intelligence with robotics, manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, and energy — is the key growth engine that will transform Jeonbuk's industrial future.

In particular, Jeonbuk presented a vision of using Hyundai Motor Company's Saemangeum investment as the starting point for a transformational shift, connecting the vast Saemangeum area with agri‑bio and manufacturing industries, universities, and research institutes, and turning the entire province into a large Physical AI demonstration zone. Calls were strong to immediately establish a 'Physical AI industrial cluster' in Jeonbuk, linked to government mega‑projects and encompassing semiconductors, AI data centers, robotics, and energy.

Through a joint resolution, attendees declared, 'Jeonbuk will no longer remain on the margins of South Korea's industrialization; let us move to the center that shapes the nation's future,' expressing firm determination for Jeonbuk's major leap forward and the future of South Korea.

They pledged, first, to build in Jeonbuk a Physical AI industrial cluster and ecosystem — covering semiconductors, AI data centers, robotics, and energy — linked to the government's 957 trillion won mega‑project, and to establish a global platform, catalyzed by Hyundai Motor Company's Saemangeum investment, that completes the full cycle from robotic data collection to demonstration, certification, standards, and mass production.

They also expressed intent to connect factories, farms, cities, and logistics through digital twins to expand AI‑, robotics‑, and data‑based dark factories and autonomous manufacturing technologies, and to develop Jeonbuk into South Korea's premier demonstration area for digital twins and dark factories. They set a goal to realize future cities where robots and humans coexist in everyday settings — industry, agriculture, medical care, and caregiving — and to build world‑class 'robot factories' and 'robot cities.'

The plan also includes combining AI agriculture, agricultural robots, autonomous farm machinery, smart farms, and agricultural big data to transform Jeonbuk agriculture into an advanced agri‑bio industry, and to support Hyundai Motor Company's robotics and hydrogen technologies to reach world‑class levels in Jeonbuk, developing Saemangeum into a hub for future energy and mobility.

In particular, they pledged to support regional universities, led by JBNU which has been promoting a national manufacturing Physical AI project, in nurturing world‑class AI and robotics talent, and to build an ecosystem connecting universities, research institutes, and companies so that young people can learn, research, and start businesses in Jeonbuk before advancing globally. They urged the government and the National Assembly to open the way for cooperative company‑cluster linked special zones under the 'Mega Special Zone Act' and to concentrate national efforts to attract companies, research institutes, talent, and capital to Jeonbuk through regulatory innovation.

Participants declared, 'From a Jeonbuk of agriculture to a Jeonbuk of advanced agri‑bio industry; from a Jeonbuk of manufacturing to a Jeonbuk of AI autonomous manufacturing; from a Saemangeum Jeonbuk to a Jeonbuk of world‑class robotics industry.' They then chanted together, 'When Jeonbuk changes, South Korea changes. When Jeonbuk leaps forward, South Korea leaps forward,' reaffirming their commitment to Jeonbuk's major leap.

At the event, President Yang O‑bong presented the 'Jeonbuk Major Leap Talent Development Strategy,' emphasizing that the starting point for competitiveness in the Physical AI industry is people, and that a system to cultivate high‑level talent capable of proactively responding to changes in future industries must be in place.

President Yang said, 'The Physical AI cluster should be designated in Saemangeum immediately, and national capabilities must be concentrated so that Jeonbuk can emerge as the hub for manufacturing Physical AI and the robotics and hydrogen energy industries,' adding, 'Bold support is needed to allow JBNU to serve as the central axis for cultivating talent to lead the region's future industries and to grow into a regional flagship university with competitiveness on par with Seoul National University.'

He added, 'The "Create 10 Seoul National Universities" initiative is not simply a policy to increase the number of universities, but a national balanced‑development strategy to build a foundation that enables top‑level education, research, and industrial innovation in regional areas,' and said, 'We will marshal all resources to propel JBNU into an innovative university that connects the region and industry and enables Jeonbuk's youth to pursue global ambitions locally.'

On the day, Minister Jeong Dong‑young stated, 'Developing the Jeonbuk Physical AI industry is a core task that goes beyond regional futures to create national balanced development and new growth engines,' and pledged, 'I will actively work toward legislation and securing related budgets at the National Assembly level.'

Han Byung‑do, floor leader of the Democratic Party, also delivered a video message, saying, 'Investments in Saemangeum and advanced industries such as robotics, hydrogen energy, and Physical AI are becoming Jeonbuk's new growth axes,' and added, 'I hope this resolution rally will be the starting point for locally led growth and regional balanced development, and the National Assembly will fully support Jeonbuk's major leap forward.'

Then, Lee Seong‑yun, Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party, emphasized, 'Physical AI is a national task that will drive manufacturing innovation and regional balanced development,' and stated, 'I will actively support legislation and budgetary measures to advance the national Physical AI project.'