Gyeongnam Province Accelerates Defense and Nuclear Power Development with New Creation of Changwon National Industrial Complex

Uichang-gu Buk-myeon 3.39㎢, 1.4 Trillion KRW Invested

On the 15th, Gyeongsangnam-do announced the government's selection of the Changwon Defense and Nuclear Convergence National Industrial Complex as a new national industrial complex.

According to Gyeongsangnam-do, on the 14th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Industrial Location Policy Committee confirmed 15 new national industrial complexes, including the defense and nuclear national industrial complex applied for by Gyeongsangnam-do and Changwon City.

Aside from one location in the metropolitan area, national advanced industrial complexes in the provinces will be established in Changwon, as well as Daegu, Andong, Gyeongju, Uljin, Daejeon, Cheonan, Cheongju, Hongseong, Gwangju, Goheung, Iksan, Wanju, and Gangneung.

Table of Changes in National Industrial Complexes by Gyeongnam Province and by City/Province. [Data provided by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

With this confirmation, the total number of national industrial complexes nationwide will increase from 47 to 62, with 10 sites in Gyeongsangnam-do accounting for 16.1% of the total.

The Changwon National Industrial Complex will be built in the Buk-myeon area of Uichang-gu, covering an area of 3.39 km², approximately 1.03 million pyeong.

A project budget of 1.4 trillion KRW will be invested to establish industrial infrastructure in the defense and nuclear sectors at this site.

Gyeongsangnam-do forecasts that once the Changwon National Industrial Complex is established, it will generate 7.9 trillion KRW in direct investment, 15.2 trillion KRW in induced production effects, direct employment of about 18,000 people, and an employment inducement effect of approximately 52,000 people.

Choi Man-rim, Deputy Governor of Gyeongnam Province, is speaking about the selection of Changwon Defense and Nuclear Fusion National Industrial Complex as a new government national industrial complex.
[Photo by Lee Se-ryeong]

At a briefing, Vice Governor Choi Man-rim explained, “In the 8th elected term, Gyeongsangnam-do and Changwon City applied in October last year for the Buk-myeon area as a candidate site for a new national industrial complex, focusing on fostering defense and nuclear industries as strategic industries responsible for future growth and securing production bases.”

“Centered on Gyeongsangnam-do, Changwon City, and local members of the National Assembly, we visited central government ministries such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs multiple times to discuss resolving various regulations and consistently proposed improvements to the Greenbelt (GB) system.”

He continued, “We invited officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to explain the feasibility of the industrial complex location and focused all efforts on selecting the national industrial complex through GB release. Governor Park Wan-su has also continuously proposed GB release and various regulatory relaxations at opportunities such as meetings with the government and provincial governors' councils.”

Vice Governor Choi said, “This national industrial complex confirmation is the first case of releasing and developing a large-scale Greenbelt (GB) area exceeding 1 million pyeong, which is a key initiative of the 8th elected Park Wan-su administration.” He added, “It will serve as a signal to overcome crises such as saturation of industrial land and stagnation of the machinery industry centered on the existing Changwon National Industrial Complex designated in 1974.”

“Going forward, we will concentrate administrative efforts to ensure the prompt commencement of projects such as selecting the remaining project implementers and establishing industrial complex plans.”

Governor Park Wan-su said, “The selection of this new national industrial complex is the result of consolidating administrative power centered on Gyeongsangnam-do, local members of the National Assembly, and Changwon City.” He added, “Through this selection, we will foster the defense and nuclear industries and link them with national industrial complexes such as Miryang Nano Convergence and Gyeongnam Aviation, transforming Gyeongsangnam-do’s industrial map into next-generation future industries and laying the foundation for Gyeongsangnam-do’s leap forward.”

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