Gimhae Mayoral Candidate Hong Taeyong: "Transforming Gimhae into an International Business City Surpassing Singapore"

Hong Taeyong, a preliminary candidate from the People Power Party and current mayor of Gimhae seeking re-election, has unveiled a policy plan to construct an "International Business City" in the Hwamok-dong area of Gimhae.

On April 15, at a press conference held at the city hall press center, Candidate Hong announced his ambition to "develop an International Business City across 9 million pyeong in the Hwamok-dong area, transforming Gimhae into a world-class city that can compete with Singapore and Dubai."

He described Gimhae as "a city of fortune that embraces the continent of wealth and the sea of power," adding, "If we leverage this strength, Gimhae can leap beyond being a mere satellite city and grow into a business city surpassing even Singapore."

He then presented five core strategies: ▲ the creation of the largest global MICE and convention complex zone in the southeastern region, spanning 800,000 pyeong; ▲ the establishment of a 2.3 million pyeong Northeast Asia integrated logistics hub; ▲ the formation of a 2.3 million pyeong logistics AI and robotics cluster; ▲ the development of a 1.9 million pyeong research & development (R&D) and public data center complex for logistics; and ▲ the construction of a 1.7 million pyeong self-sustaining mixed-use city.

Taeyong Hong, the preliminary candidate for mayor of Gimhae, Gyeongnam from the People Power Party, is announcing policy pledges related to the "creation of an international business city."
[Photo by Seryeong Lee]

Candidate Hong stated, "An International Business City should not be a place where only goods flow in and out, but an open city where people meet, contracts are made, and various events and functions occur." He pledged, "We will develop the Hwamok-dong area into a Gimhae-style global MICE and convention complex zone, combining international logistics, exhibitions, conferences, business consultations, showrooms, and business hotels."

He further emphasized, "By leveraging Gimhae's location, which connects the Busan New Port, Jinhae New Port, the new Gadeokdo airport, railways, and highways, we will establish Gimhae as a key hub in the global supply chain." He added, "Gimhae will now become a high-value-added logistics city hub, integrating e-commerce, cold chain, bonded warehousing and customs clearance, and rapid transshipment."

He also announced, "We will create an advanced industrial ecosystem where logistics robots, sensors, automation equipment, smart manufacturing, and specialized logistics for bio and pharmaceuticals grow together," and expressed confidence that "Gimhae will become not just a logistics processing site, but a future industrial city that combines manufacturing, logistics, artificial intelligence, and robotics."

Additionally, he said, "We will establish a public data attraction space where technology, data, research, and talent converge," and added, "In line with the expansion of the free economic zone, we will also attract global university campuses and establish research institutions specializing in logistics."

He also mentioned plans to establish a university specializing in AI and logistics and to attract an institution tentatively named the Gyeongnam Institute of Science and Technology.

Moreover, he said, "We will create a space that offers quality residential, educational, cultural, leisure, and park facilities, so that young people do not leave and citizens can feel a tangible change in their lives." He added, "In the new Gimhae International City, which will be twice the size of Haeundae New Town and comparable to Myeongji International City, a population of 500,000 will gather, propelling Gimhae toward becoming a city of one million people."

Plan and location map for the creation of an "International Business City" proposed by Hong Taeyong, the preliminary candidate for the mayor of Gimhae, Gyeongnam, from the People Power Party. [Image provided by the campaign office of preliminary candidate Hong Taeyong]

Candidate Hong stated, "When I announced my candidacy on the 8th, my promise to instill pride in living in Gimhae and to achieve the vision of a happy city was not simply about serving another term as mayor of Gimhae. It was a pledge to significantly scale up Gimhae without stopping."

He continued, "During my tenure as mayor, I have become convinced that Gimhae's leap forward lies in a major transformation of the city." He added, "Over the past four years, I have worked intensely to lay the groundwork with the Northeast Asia Logistics Platform, which marked the beginning of Gimhae's transformation into a global city. In the next four years, I will work with citizens to complete the International Business City."

He further stated, "Over the past four years, I have confirmed Gimhae's potential, and in the next four years, I will turn that potential into reality. I will make my hometown of Gimhae the highest-level city where businesses come, universities come, young people stay, and the lives of citizens change, and I will achieve this together with the citizens."

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