‘Gyeongju e-Mobility Research Complex’ to be completed by October next year ... New technologies for future vehicles

Three Future Car Infrastructure Centers Established

Jun Nak-Young: "A Leading City of Innovative Industries"

Gyeongju City announced on the 5th that it has been building infrastructure for the transition to future vehicles by proactively responding to the rapidly changing automobile industry, including the cessation of internal combustion engine production by 2030, through challenging industrial ministry competitions over the past three years. The Advanced Vehicle Material Molding and Processing Technology Advancement Center (29 billion KRW), Carbon Material Parts Recycling Center (19.3 billion KRW), and e-Mobility Battery Integrated Control Hub Center (42.3 billion KRW) were each selected.

All three projects, including the Advanced Vehicle Material Molding and Processing Technology Advancement Center to be completed in April, are planned to be located in Gu-eo 2 Industrial Complex, Oedong-eup, Gyeongju City. The three research institutions, which will play a pivotal role in the transition to future vehicles, will be integrated into the ‘Gyeongju e-Mobility Research Complex’ and completed by October next year. The complex will serve as a global forward base for future mobility materials and parts, supporting the dissemination of new automotive technologies, corporate support, and professional workforce development.

Perspective view of the 'Gyeongju e-Mobility Research Complex' to be established in Gu-eo 2 Industrial Complex, Oedong-eup, Gyeongju-si.

Although Gyeongju does not have large-scale complete vehicle factories, it is a mid-sized city between Pohang’s steel industry and Ulsan’s complete vehicle industry, with the automobile industry accounting for nearly 60% of its economy. Over 1,300 automobile material and parts-related companies are located here.

The Advanced Vehicle Material Molding and Processing Center, which began construction in November 2021, will have a total floor area of 2,989㎡ (3 floors above ground). It will include a newly built research and evaluation building and ten types of equipment such as advanced material and molding technology test beds. The center aims to support technical challenges, develop sales channels, and train professionals for the commercialization of advanced materials, with completion scheduled for April.

Additionally, with an investment of 19.3 billion KRW, the Carbon Material Parts Recycling Center, the first of its kind in Korea for recycling and productizing carbon materials, is planned to be completed by December this year. Construction began on the 13th of last month, with a total floor area of 2,237㎡ (2 floors above ground).

This center will establish a foundation for the carbon material parts industry by recycling and resource recovery of carbon materials, securing core recycling technologies, training specialized personnel, and fostering key small and medium enterprises in carbon composite redevelopment.

Linked with Gyeongsangbuk-do Province’s carbon material parts ecosystem construction project, it is expected that a virtuous cycle ecosystem cluster for carbon material parts will be established, with Gyeongsan focusing on parts design, Gumi on product manufacturing, and Gyeongju on recycling.

Joo Nak-young, mayor of Gyeongju, is inspecting the construction site of the "Gyeongju e-Mobility Research Complex" to be established in Gu-eo 2 Industrial Complex, Oedong-eup.

Furthermore, with an investment of 42.3 billion KRW, a Battery Sharing Station Integrated Control Center will be built with a total floor area of 2,501㎡ (2 floors above ground). It aims to conduct demonstration and evaluation of battery sharing stations, R&D, overseas business model demonstrations, and develop standards for electric two-wheeler batteries. Construction will start in September this year and be completed by October next year.

Gyeongju City plans to establish the ‘Haeoreum Alliance Future Industrial Complex Innovation Platform’ with a budget of 17.8 billion KRW to reinforce software by introducing new technologies, research equipment, and expanding professional personnel. This will solidify the ‘Gyeongju e-Mobility Research Complex’ as a future vehicle hub research center and propel the city to become the top city in next-generation mobility innovative parts production.

Mayor Ju Nak-young stated, “In the rapidly changing mobility industry, the challenges that related companies in our region face will find solutions through the ‘Gyeongju e-Mobility Research Complex.’ We will concentrate all our capabilities to become a leading city in the automotive material and parts industry with a solid innovation industrial belt in the future vehicle sector.”

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