Gangwon-do Applies to Ministry of Science and ICT for Designation as a 'Metropolitan Research and Development Special Zone'

Four Districts in Chuncheon, Wonju, and Gangneung...
Annual Support of 10 Billion KRW Upon Designation
Aiming to Support R&D and Industrialization in Bio, Healthcare, Semiconductors, and More

Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Governor Kim Jin-tae) announced on the 22nd that it has completed the establishment of a comprehensive plan for fostering a special zone to designate a metropolitan research and development (R&D) special zone, and plans to finalize the application to the Ministry of Science and ICT on the same day.

A panoramic view of Gangwon Provincial Government Office. Photo by Gangwon Provincial Government Office

A research and development special zone refers to an area established under the Research and Development Special Zone Act to create new technologies through R&D, promote the dissemination of R&D outcomes, and facilitate commercialization. Once designated as a special zone, an annual project budget of 10 billion KRW is continuously supported, along with various benefits such as tax incentives, the establishment of investment funds, and regulatory exemptions for demonstration projects.

To qualify, universities, research institutes, and companies must be concentrated and interconnected, and the area must have the basic conditions necessary for R&D commercialization. Gangwon Province has relaxed the designation requirements through key exceptions in the Gangwon Special Act.

Application for Designation of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province as a Metropolitan Research and Development Special Zone. Data provided by Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Office.

Through this application, Gangwon Province plans to designate a metropolitan R&D special zone covering a total area of 16.7 km² across four districts centered on Chuncheon, Wonju, and Gangneung cities, aiming to support advanced R&D and industrialization in common specialized fields such as bio, healthcare, semiconductors, and mobility.

The Gangwon metropolitan R&D special zone requires the establishment of a system for technology creation and human resource development centered on universities and research institutions, considering the development of regional key industries and inter-industry linkage and convergence. Accordingly, ‘Technology Commercialization Districts’ have been set up to promote the development of key industries in Chuncheon, Wonju, and Gangneung, and ‘Technology Creation and Human Resource Development Districts’ have been established to support linkage, convergence, and commercialization among these districts.

So far, Gangwon Province has reflected the ‘designation of research and development special zones’ as a key exception in the second amendment of the Gangwon Special Act, and has established the comprehensive plan for fostering the special zone through regular consultations with basic local governments (Chuncheon, Wonju, Gangneung) and networking with companies and research institutions, completing public inspection and public hearings.

Going forward, Gangwon Province plans to receive designation as the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province metropolitan research and development special zone within this year after review by the Research and Development Special Zone Committee and consultations with related ministries.

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