230,000 Residents in Innovation City, Increased by 55,000 in 3.5 Years... Average Age 34.1 Years

Perspective View of the Innovation City Multipurpose Sports Center

[Asia Economy Reporter Kangwook Cho] The population of the 10 innovation cities established by the government for balanced regional development has increased by more than 50,000 in three and a half years. The average age in the innovation cities was 34.1 years, nearly 10 years younger than the national average.

On the 18th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced the results of the "2021 First Half Innovation City Residential Environment Statistical Survey," which includes the status of the resident population and the supply of key residential facilities in innovation cities.

Earlier, in February 2018, the Ministry announced the "Innovation City Season 2" plan, which involved relocating 153 public institutions from the metropolitan area to local regions and constructing 10 innovation cities to accommodate them.

According to the survey results, as of the end of June, the population of innovation cities was counted at 229,401, which is 85.6% of the planned population of 267,000. This represents a 7.3% increase compared to one year ago and an increase of 55,124 people (31.6%) compared to the end of 2017 (174,277), just before the announcement of "Innovation City Season 2."

Over the three and a half years, the population growth rate was highest in Gyeongnam with 16,882 people (108.4%), followed by Chungbuk with 14,136 people (89.5%). The average monthly number of new residents during this period was 1,312, showing little change compared to 1,299 in the past year.

The average age in the new cities was 34.1 years, significantly younger than the national average of 43.3 years. Notably, children aged 9 and under accounted for 16.5%, about twice the national average of 7.5%.

The family relocation rate of employees from relocated public institutions was 66.5% (53.7% among married individuals), an increase of 8.4 percentage points compared to the end of 2017. By city, Jeonbuk increased by 16.6 percentage points, followed by Chungbuk with 15.8 percentage points. Compared to one year ago, Gangwon increased by 3.7 percentage points, and Ulsan and Gyeongnam by 2.1 percentage points.

Apartments were supplied at 84,328 units, which is 93.2% of the planned 90,520 units by 2030. This is an increase of 19,222 units (29.5%) compared to the end of 2017. Gyeongnam saw the highest increase with 6,639 units (117.4%), followed by Chungbuk with 5,402 units (79.1%).

There are currently 47 schools (elementary, middle, and high), 42 kindergartens, and 278 daycare centers in operation, along with 7,657 convenience facilities such as clinics and marts.

This year, the Korea Energy Engineering University groundbreaking (Gwangju-Jeonnam Innovation), the tentative groundbreaking of Bonseong High School (Chungbuk Innovation), and the opening of Unnam Middle School (Gyeongbuk Innovation) are scheduled. The National Fire Hospital, a general hospital-level medical facility (Chungbuk Innovation), will begin construction in January next year. Saint Hospital has opened (Gangwon Innovation), and Yeonhap Hospital (Gyeongbuk Innovation) and Yonsei Hospital (Daegu Innovation) are nearing completion.

Additionally, a complex innovation center combining residential infrastructure (culture, sports, welfare) and startup support spaces is being promoted across all 10 innovation cities. The center in Wanju, Jeonbuk, was completed earlier this year, and most others are expected to be completed next year.

A "demand-responsive shuttle" combining public transportation with information and communication technology is also being promoted. Hyundai Motor Company and public-private partnerships are currently developing the business plan, and after regulatory sandbox approval, the platform is expected to be established and services launched as early as the first half of next year.

Lee Daeseop, head of the Innovation City Support Policy Division at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, "We will continue to steadily implement existing projects and actively discover new projects tailored to regional demands to create high-quality innovation cities that meet the expectations of local residents in housing, education, culture, medical care, and transportation."

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