Major Overhaul Project 'Full-Scale Launch' Including Redefinition of Roles in Gwangju Industrial Complexes

On the morning of the 11th, Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, held a commemorative photo session after discussing the direction of the industrial complex renovation project at the "Industrial Complex Renovation Gwangju Area On-site Meeting" held in the conference room of the Korea Industrial Complex Corporation Gwangju-Jeonnam Headquarters in Buk-gu. The meeting was attended by Kim Yong-gi, Vice Chairman of the Job Committee, heads of related organizations, and businesspeople. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] The large-scale redevelopment project of industrial complexes in the Gwangju area, aimed at redefining their functions and roles, spreading smart factories, and establishing a manufacturing data center to create an innovation hub, is set to be fully launched.

Gwangju Metropolitan City announced on the 11th that it was finally selected last month after participating in the industrial complex redevelopment contest promoted by the Job Committee, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, receiving high evaluations for job creation effects and local government commitment.

The Gwangju industrial complex redevelopment project focuses on utilizing the innovation resources of the key industrial complex, Gwangju Advanced Science Industrial Complex, to foster industries centered on automotive electronic components and composite molds. Hanam Industrial Complex will concentrate on nurturing the body, chassis assembly, and mold industries to create a ‘Gwangju-type automotive industry cooperation belt’ capable of supplying high-quality parts to the complete vehicle factory of Gwangju Global Motors in Bitgreen Industrial Complex.

Furthermore, the advanced industrial complex will be developed into a smart industrial complex by spreading smart factories and establishing a manufacturing data center.

Regarding this redevelopment of industrial complexes in the Gwangju area, the Job Committee held a meeting on the same day at the Korea Industrial Complex Corporation Gwangju-Jeonnam Headquarters to discuss the direction of the redevelopment project and listen to difficulties faced by companies.

The meeting was attended by Mayor Lee Yong-seop, Vice Chairman Kim Yong-gi of the Job Committee, President Kim Ki-seon of GIST, Director Kim Sun-min of Technopark, Director Lee Jeong of the Bank of Korea Gwangju-Jeonnam Headquarters, President Song Jong-wook of Gwangju Bank, Director Lee Haeng-man of Korea Industrial Complex Corporation Gwangju-Jeonnam Headquarters, and company representatives.

At the meeting, company representatives suggested ▲ easing the self-financing burden for smart factory construction ▲ road maintenance and parking lot expansion ▲ creation of new industrial complexes ▲ installation of streetlights and CCTV.

Additionally, related organizations discussed ▲ the direction of the industrial complex redevelopment project ▲ smart talent workforce development plans ▲ industry-academia-research cooperation plans ▲ smart industrial complex creation plans.

In particular, Mayor Lee Yong-seop proposed the establishment of ‘guidelines for housing cost support for workers in win-win regional jobs’ at the meeting.

Gwangju City judged that for housing cost support, a key incentive for workers participating in win-win regional jobs, to be implemented, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the relevant authority, needs to establish and enforce related support guidelines, and requested support with an 80% national budget and 20% local budget matching scheme.

Mayor Lee emphasized, “Win-win regional jobs are a golden opportunity to transform the structure of the Korean economy and enhance the competitiveness of manufacturing,” adding, “In the post-COVID-19 era, Gwangju will take a new leap forward with the two wings of the win-win Gwangju-type jobs and the AI cluster in the 4th Industrial Revolution era.”

He continued, “I thank the company representatives who are repeatedly achieving innovative growth by creating exports and employment despite the difficulties caused by COVID-19,” and said, “Based on the feedback collected on site, we will discuss with the government and research institutions to steadily promote the industrial complex redevelopment project so that it can practically help the growth of our companies.”

Before the meeting, Vice Chairman Kim Yong-gi of the Job Committee toured the smart factory manufacturing line and production process of Hyundai Hi-Tech Co., Ltd., an automotive body parts manufacturer in Hanam Industrial Complex, discussed the difficulties faced by the company and government support measures, and expressed the opinion that the government will make its best efforts to ensure the smooth promotion of the industrial complex redevelopment project.

Meanwhile, Gwangju City aims through the industrial complex redevelopment project to create 10,000 jobs over three years, increase the manufacturing sector’s share of GRDP by 1.7% to 26.6%, boost manufacturing value-added by 1.3 trillion KRW, and attract 369 companies.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.