Changwon Special City, Steadily Preparing for the Future... Consecutive Selections in Government Contest Projects

Mayor Hong Nampyo: "As a Result of Efforts by Administration and National Assembly Members

We Will Continue to Do Our Best to Attract Projects for the Future"

Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam is embarking on a full-scale effort to prepare for the future.

In 2023, the first practical year of the 8th elected administration, Changwon Special City has been consecutively selected for major government public projects, with efforts for Changwon's future beginning to bear fruit one by one.

Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam has been reaping the fruits of its efforts for the future of Changwon as it has been consecutively selected for government public projects this year.

◇ Establishing Infrastructure for High Value-Added and Industrial Structure Diversification ＝ Changwon Special City was recently selected as the site for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s public project, the ‘AI and Big Data-Based Medical and Bio Advanced Equipment Research and Manufacturing Center Construction Project.’ This project aims to build infrastructure to foster the existing manufacturing industry into advanced medical device and medical device parts manufacturing industries by utilizing artificial intelligence and big data. A total of 25.7 billion KRW, including national funds, will be invested over five years from this year through 2027.

The city plans to cluster medical and bio companies in the research and manufacturing center building to create a specialized complex, which is expected to greatly contribute to securing high value-added future growth engines and diversifying Changwon’s industrial structure, which has been concentrated on the machinery industry.

Additionally, on the 17th of last month, the city was finally selected for the ‘2023 Drone Demonstration City Construction Project’ hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, receiving approximately 1.4 billion KRW in national funding. This project supports drone utilization demonstrations tailored to regional characteristics, starting in earnest in April and continuing until the end of November.

The city will promote the project by dividing it into logistics and safety sectors, aiming to build a ‘Happy People Changwon City,’ including ▲ demonstration of a smart integrated logistics system for island areas and ▲ demonstration of integrated disaster safety management monitoring. After the project ends, the city plans to secure its own budget to support delivery cost subsidies for the drone delivery service business.

Furthermore, on the 15th of last month, the ‘Changwon National Industrial Complex 2.0,’ which the city has been promoting comprehensively, was selected as a new national industrial complex candidate site by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Accordingly, a national industrial complex specialized in nuclear power and defense industries is planned to be established in the Buk-myeon area of Uichang-gu and Dong-eup area. The project is expected to be finally approved in 2027 after procedures such as selecting operators and lifting development restrictions.

After final approval, Changwon National Industrial Complex 2.0 plans to invest an estimated 1.4215 trillion KRW by 2030, focusing on three main pillars: ▲ a research-dedicated zone where corporate research institutes, research organizations, and research centers can engage in creative activities; ▲ a production-dedicated zone optimized for efficiency and productivity with spatial arrangements tailored to characteristics such as heavy machinery and lightweight modular electric and electronic equipment; and ▲ a convergence zone that promotes integration of research and production, including support organizations, testing and certification centers, and convergence product manufacturing companies.

◇ Securing Citizen Convenience and Protection of Life and Property ＝ On the 28th of last month, Changwon Special City’s proposed ‘Masan Station MaaS Station’ was finally selected in the ‘Future-Type Transfer Center (MaaS Station) Pilot Project’ competition conducted by the Metropolitan Area Transport Committee of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. A total of 53.3 billion KRW will be invested from next year through 2028.

The ‘Future-Type Transfer Center’ is a place optimally connected not only to existing transportation modes such as rail and buses but also to future mobility including Urban Air Mobility (UAM), autonomous vehicles, and Personal Mobility (PM). The city plans to enable transfers within 60 seconds between existing transportation modes and future mobility within a single building, aiming to realize ‘60-second transfers between connected transportation modes centered on Masan Station.’

Alongside this, on the 6th of this month, the city’s Myeongseo District stormwater detention facility installation project was finally selected as a ‘2024 Excellent Stormwater Detention Facility New Project District’ by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, securing 19.8 billion KRW in national and local funds. This disaster prevention project involves constructing a new detention basin of 14,000 cubic meters and upgrading 1,715 meters of stormwater drainage pipes, with detailed design services starting next year and completion expected in 2027.

The project site in Myeongseo-dong, Uichang-gu, is a disaster-vulnerable area that has suffered significant human and property damage due to flooding during typhoons and heavy rains. The installation of this stormwater detention facility is expected to greatly help prevent flood damage and other disasters.

Mayor Hong Nam-pyo said, “The consecutive selections for government public projects this year are the result of meticulous preparation by the administration, local members of the National Assembly, and related national institutions working as one team.” He added, “We will continue to do our best to attract and promote projects that protect citizens’ lives and property, as well as future new industries with high added value that will lead the 4th Industrial Revolution era.”

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