Changwon Mayor Hong Nampyo Expresses Expectations for Changwon National Industrial Complex and Digital Free Trade Zone

Commitment to Fostering Talent in Industrial Complex Technology and Information Security

Hong Nampyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam, expressed expectations for the Changwon National Industrial Complex, which marks its 50th anniversary this year, and the Digital Free Trade Zone to be established nationwide for the first time.

At a New Year's press conference held on the 18th at the City Hall Citizen Hall, Mayor Hong said, "We are preparing a major reform regarding the purpose, engines, and living conditions of workers in the Changwon National Industrial Complex, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year."

Hong Nampyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City, Gyeongnam, is announcing the new year's administrative operation plan at the 2024 New Year's press briefing.
[Photo by Lee Seryeong]

He added, "We plan to implement digital transformation suitable for the 4th Industrial Revolution era, operate a digital platform for industrial complex management, and run an industrial digital transformation collaboration support center," and said, "We will hold a commemorative ceremony around April, the 50th anniversary of the industrial complex, and announce mid- to long-term plans for the advancement of the national industrial complex."

He continued, "The Digital Free Trade Zone will be established for the first time nationwide in Masan Marine New City," emphasizing, "It will become an urban high-tech industrial complex where knowledge-based information and communication industries and advanced manufacturing industries are concentrated."

"We need to draw a big picture of what the Digital Free Trade Zone will look like in the future," he said, adding, "We will create a new industrial ecosystem in the Digital Free Trade Zone to take responsibility for Masan's future."

"Along with this, efforts will be made to transform the Bongam and Jungni industrial complexes into complexes where industry, business, residence, and culture are converged and integrated," he said, adding, "Through this, I believe Masan can be rearmed with new vitality."

Hong Nampyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City, Gyeongnam, is answering reporters' questions at the 2024 New Year's press conference.
[Photo by Lee Seryeong]

Mayor Hong also revealed his commitment to technology security and information protection for industrial complex companies.

Regarding the recent overseas leakage incident of submarine design drawings, Mayor Hong said, "Along with intellectual property rights, technology protection is really important."

Given Changwon's characteristics as an industrial complex where companies from various fields such as defense, nuclear power, and hydrogen gather, he analyzed that preventing technology leakage and protecting confidentiality are important, but awareness and workforce expansion are insufficient.

Mayor Hong said, "Technology developed with a lot of money and time must not be leaked," and added, "There is a high demand for information protection and security in the Changwon area, but the supply side, such as nurturing talent, is weak, and awareness is low."

He said, "We will consult with local universities to establish specialized departments such as information protection to connect local talent with local companies for employment," and "We will also create a dedicated support organization for intellectual property rights in the Digital Free Trade Zone to be established this time."

He elaborated, "We will create an ecosystem that connects developed technology to patent rights and prevents it from being taken away, enabling the use of existing technology to generate revenue."

Mayor Hong pledged, "We will not only support the digitalization of local industrial complexes and companies but also strive to protect their unique technologies."

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