Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone Authority Approves Bobaebokhap District Development Plan Amendment

Transitioning from a Manufacturing Hub to an Integrated Logistics Center
Laying the Foundation for a Global Logistics Cluster

The Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone Authority (Commissioner Park Seongho) announced that the "Development Plan Amendment for the Bobaebokhap District in the Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone" was reviewed and approved at the 145th Free Economic Zone Committee meeting hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on September 22.

The Bobaebokhap District project aims to establish industrial, research, business, and public facilities on an 800,000-square-meter site in Dudong, Jinhae-gu, Changwon City. The project developer, Bobae Industry, is targeting completion by 2027.

This amendment reflects increased logistics demand due to the activation of the Busan New Port and the ongoing construction of the Jinhae New Port, as well as changes in corporate occupancy demand.

The key changes include: ▲ addition of logistics businesses to industrial land use; ▲ installation of the nation’s largest underground cold chain facility; ▲ expansion of industrial land and reduction of research, business, and public land; and ▲ modification of road plans to accommodate medium and large vehicles.

After receiving the amendment application from the project developer in July of last year, the Free Economic Zone Authority held consultations with related agencies, five resident meetings, and advisory sessions before submitting the proposal. Commissioner Park Seongho personally attended the committee to actively explain the necessity of adding logistics businesses and installing the underground cold chain facility.

The committee reviewed the strategic location of the Bobaebokhap District (5 km from Busan New Port, 7.5 km from Jinhae New Port, and 13.5 km from Gadeok New Airport), the increase in logistics demand, and the project’s feasibility, and approved the amendment as originally proposed.

With this amendment, the Bobaebokhap District has laid the foundation to transform from a manufacturing-focused area into a new growth hub for integrated logistics. Many logistics companies have expressed their intention to move in, and optimal frozen and refrigerated storage facilities, connected to more than 130 nearby seafood processing companies, are expected to spur new investment, revitalize the local economy, and create jobs.

Commissioner Park Seongho of the Free Economic Zone Authority stated, "With the approval of this development plan amendment, the Bobaebokhap District has established the foundation to grow into a global port-linked logistics cluster," adding, "We will actively work to revitalize the regional economy and attract further investment."

Bird's-eye view of Bobaebokhap District.

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