Kim Byung-won Preliminary Candidate "I Will Completely Change the Economic Map of Naju"

Promotion of Innovation City Cluster Activation through Designation as Gangso R&D Special Zone

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Kim Byeong-won, a preliminary candidate for the Democratic Party of Korea in Naju-Hwasun, Jeonnam, has presented a blueprint to completely transform Naju's economic map through the designation of a Small Giant Research and Development (R&D) Special Zone and the revitalization of the Innovation City cluster.

On the 12th, candidate Kim stated, "We plan to develop an R&D complex and a district for attracting operational companies on the site of the KEPCO Energy New Technology Research Institute in Innovation City, turning Naju Innovation City's Energy Valley into a mecca of new energy industries."

He added, "In connection with KEPCO and the Korea Electric Power Corporation Graduate School of Energy (KEPCO Graduate School), a global energy science and technology university, the Small Giant Special Zone will be designated and operated as a new model of a regional innovation growth platform where Innovation City and local companies grow together." He continued, "As a key task to revitalize the Innovation City cluster, we will nurture it into an industry-academia convergence campus by attracting second campuses of major universities such as Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology."

The designation of the Small Giant R&D Special Zone is a project to designate and foster small-scale, high-density concentrated spaces such as universities, research institutes, and public enterprises as R&D special zones.

Research institutes, companies, and venture businesses located in the Small Giant Special Zone will receive benefits such as reductions in corporate and local taxes. Additionally, companies residing in or newly entering the Small Giant Special Zone will be granted special privileges to apply for government-supported technology commercialization R&D projects.

Organically linked with this special zone, an Innovation City cluster will be completed in an area covering 13 blocks totaling 463,190㎡ in Geumcheon and Sanpo-myeon, Naju City, including educational and research facilities (schools, research institutes, libraries), venture business complexes, and software promotion facilities.

Candidate Kim said, "Upon completion of this project, it is expected to generate an annual production effect of 298.8 billion KRW and a value-added effect of 145.4 billion KRW." He added, "Along with this, it is projected to create direct and indirect employment effects for about 1,000 people, greatly contributing to the revitalization of the regional economy."

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