"I Will Definitely Achieve It"... Gwangju City’s Life-or-Death Battle to Attract 'Gyeonggi-do Economic Science Promotion Institute'

"Well-Preserved Natural Environment · Well-Developed Transportation Conditions"
"Gwanggyo·Pangyo Technovalley and Geographical Advantages, Synergy Effects"

Gyeonggi-do Economic Science Promotion Agency Hosting Hope Pan-Citizen Resolution Rally

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] "The current situation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is very dire. There is still a significant lack of specialized institutions or groups that can enhance corporate competitiveness." - Yoon Han-gi (52, Construction Industry, Opo-eup, Gwangju City) -

"Advanced projects and high value-added businesses must be fostered for young people who strive for self-development and to realize their dreams." - Jang Sung-min (29, Part-time University Student) -

"I feel very rewarded to be able to participate in volunteer activities that can contribute to the local community. I will actively support the campaign to attract the Gyeonggi-do Economic Science Promotion Agency (Gyeonggawon) to Gwangju City." - Gwangju Green Clinic Volunteer Group (President Shin Bong-hoon) -

"We will cheer for and support the ongoing 'Gyeonggi-do Public Institution Attraction' activities for women's social participation and the regional development of Gwangju City." - Gwangju City Women's Association Council - (President Jung Woo-kyung) -

Gwangju City in Gyeonggi-do is determined to successfully attract the Gyeonggi-do Economic Science Promotion Agency (Gyeonggawon), a key institution that can create a decisive synergy effect in enhancing industrial competitiveness and establishing research and development infrastructure, to the Gwangju station area.

In particular, although Gwangju City has well-preserved natural environments and well-developed transportation conditions that allow quick access to nearby cities such as Seoul, due to development restriction regulations, there are no public institutions, large corporations, comprehensive universities, general hospitals, or department stores.

However, attracting Gyeonggawon this time means becoming a friend to the region's small and medium-sized enterprises, and because it offers opportunities to connect with IT and bio sectors, it is crucial to put all efforts into the attraction campaign.

Gwangju Arts Council Performance Praying for the Attraction of Public Institutions

For over 50 years, the citizens of Gwangju have lived with the heavy responsibility of protecting the Paldang water source, which is the lifeline for 26 million metropolitan citizens. Since the completion of the Paldang Dam in 1973, laws restricting Gwangju have been introduced one after another, resulting in dense overlapping regulations, making compensation for past sacrifices urgently needed.

The competition to attract Gyeonggawon reflects the desperate wish of Gwangju citizens to overcome the current crisis in regional development. It is natural to embrace a region losing vitality, and there is a strong voice among residents that attracting Gyeonggawon should be the turning point.

Although it is a Gyeonggi-do level issue, attracting public institutions including Gyeonggawon is not easy. It requires winning against other local governments competing in the attraction race and also demands citizen cohesion.

Looking at the voluntary promotional activities by citizens so far, Gwangju City is evaluated to have made considerable preparations by strengthening the rationale for attraction and forming a solid focal point.

On the 12th of last month, Gwangju City drew attention by performing a farmer's music band-led performance at the northern office of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government while submitting the application form, symbolizing "We will bring Gyeonggawon to Gwangju."

The city passed the first screening of the first round of the third public institution relocation contest by Gyeonggi-do on the 4th.

Mayor Shin Dong-heon emphasized "special compensation for special anger," echoing Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung's phrase "special compensation for special sacrifice."

Mayor Shin reiterated the necessity of attraction, saying, "We are exhausted. It has already been 50 years. Politics is fundamentally about resolving grievances. But now, grievances have turned into deep resentment."

Mayor Shin Dong-heon of Gwangju City is holding the application form for the Gyeonggi-do Economic Science Promotion Agency recruitment and is strengthening his determination to attract it.

After passing the first screening, the attraction promotion team has entered the final stage of the campaign before the decisive battle.

Including Mayor Shin, the promotion team plans to hold strategic meetings, focus on the second screening, and continue attraction activities without losing tension until the very end.

In particular, the strategy is to highlight advantages important for public institution relocation such as the Jungbu Expressway, the Second Jungbu Expressway, the ongoing metropolitan area second ring expressway, the Suseo-Gwangju double-track railway, the extension project of the Gyeonggang Line connecting Anseong and Yongin, and the GTX line promotion.

The promotion team emphasized, "Gwangju has affordable housing and convenient transportation, harmonizing well with the surrounding natural environment, making it an ideal workplace," adding, "It is 30 minutes to Gwanggyo, 10 minutes to Pangyo, and 30 minutes to Gangnam, allowing easy commuting from anywhere in the metropolitan area."

Regarding the first screening results, they said, "Once again, together with 400,000 Gwangju citizens, we welcome Gyeonggi-do's decision on the third public institution relocation," expressing their earnest desire to attract Gyeonggawon.

Citizens and organizations in the Gwangju area who wish for Gyeonggawon to be located in Gwangju expressed confidence and expectations, saying, "Because we have prepared diligently, we believe good results will come."

▲ Efforts made so far for attraction

Gwangju City has prioritized attracting Gyeonggawon, expecting synergy effects from geographical advantages with Gwanggyo and Pangyo Techno Valleys and collaboration with approximately 6,200 companies.

They formed a public institution attraction promotion team and held continuous T/F meetings, rapidly advancing strategic detailed plans including site negotiations, proposal preparation, public discussions, and consultations with related organizations.

Starting with an online and offline signature campaign reflecting the wishes of 400,000 Gwangju citizens, they held council resolution adoption, group public hearings, meetings with business and local leaders, and issued support statements, conducting an all-out campaign to attract Gyeonggawon.

Additionally, they invested efforts in differentiated proposal writing, a broad civic resolution rally, and intensive online promotion through SNS, blogs, and YouTube.

▲ Regional conditions connected to all bases

Gwangju City is located in the center of Gyeonggi-do, making it a well-connected city easily accessible from anywhere in the province, with favorable accessibility for business coordination with all Gyeonggawon base centers.

Among the promotion agency's base centers, the western regional center is in Siheung City, the northern regional center in Pocheon City, and the southern regional center in Anseong City. The 17 Gyeonggi Venture Startup Support Centers are located in the western and northern regions, but none exist in the southeastern region.

Among the 17 eligible cities and counties, Gwangju is the closest to Gyeonggi-do's representative business clusters, making it a region with great growth potential for supporting SME growth and industry-academia-research collaboration after Gyeonggawon relocation.

Nearby Gwangju are 68,601 companies in Suwon City, 61,586 in Seongnam City, 49,373 in Yongin City, 15,472 in Icheon City, 14,580 in Hanam City, and 26,161 in Gwangju City itself.

Therefore, it can become an economic and scientific development belt linking Suwon (Gwanggyo) - Seongnam (Pangyo) - Gwangju (Gyeonggawon headquarters), creating growth synergy and serving as a convergence hub for new industries.

Gwangju_Seongnam Local Road No. 338 Ibaejae Tunnel Section Fully Opened with 4 Lanes [Provided by Gwangju City]

▲ Location conditions matching relocation proposals

Gwangju City is proposing a site that fully meets the relocation criteria of Gyeonggawon.

The city proposed the 'Youth Innovation Town' site and the 'Gwangju City Knowledge Industry Center' site within the Gwangju station area as spaces tailored for prospective entrepreneurs, offering affordable rental supply, startup support centers, startup support residential facilities, welfare support facilities, innovation technology convergence hubs, and startup win-win platforms.

With the public institution building project located within a 5-minute walk (600m) from Gwangju Station, it is possible to move in under affordable rental conditions, minimizing the financial burden on Gyeonggawon.

It also meets the relocation area requirement of 8,600㎡ and can expand office space or adjust the configuration according to future requests from Gyeonggawon.

As a complex infrastructure facility composed of workplaces, residences, and welfare facilities, it can activate Gyeonggawon functions, and the nearby Gyeonggi Gwangju Tax Office is also scheduled for new construction.

The planned parking lot area in the Gwangju station area urban development project is about 7,220㎡, securing approximately 430 parking spaces, which is sufficient to accommodate staff and visitors to Gyeonggawon.

▲ Business-friendly working conditions

Gwangju City is the only local government in Gyeonggi-do to have consecutively won the top award for 12 years in the 'Corporate SOS System Operation Evaluation.'

The city is recognized for its efforts in job creation and regional economic development despite the difficult environment caused by various public regulations affecting 26,161 SMEs (as of 2018).

Every year, the city establishes an 'Enterprise SOS System Operation Plan,' promptly addresses on-site difficulties faced by companies, and conducts thorough follow-up management, earning the top award consecutively from 2008 to last year for 12 years.

Among these, it won the grand prize 10 times and also received the Minister of Knowledge Economy Award at the Corporate Love Excellent Innovation Case Presentation Contest (2012) and the Minister's Award in the Corporate Environment category at the 13th Korea Local Autonomy Management Competition (2016).

The Gwangju City Daycare Center Association is participating in revitalizing the local economy through a tree-planting event utilizing local flower farms.
[Provided by Gwangju City]

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