Gyeonggi Province to Accelerate Construction of All Technovalley Projects by 2022

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province plans to accelerate the start of construction on Technovalley projects currently being planned, including the Third Pangyo Technovalley, Yangju Technovalley, and Yongin Platform City by 2022, while promoting 'creation of a happy city where residents want to live' through the supply of 200,000 public rental housing units.

Hong Ji-seon, Director of Urban and Housing of Gyeonggi Province, disclosed on the 12th the policy direction for the urban and housing sector in the latter half of the seventh popular election term, stating "We will strengthen economic crisis resilience, create a healthy city where people and environment harmoniously coexist sustainably, and build a city where universal residential welfare is implemented and public interest functions are strengthened in the real estate sector."

The province plans to promote urban and housing policies under five strategies in the latter half of the seventh term: ▲establishing a foundation for industrial diversification to strengthen regional resilience ▲creating sustainable urban spaces centered on people and environment ▲implementing universal residential welfare for common people's happiness ▲strengthening public interest functions of real estate for a fair society ▲creating safe and pleasant living environments.

First, to establish a foundation for industrial diversification, the province plans to begin construction on the Third Pangyo Technovalley, Goyang Ilsan Technovalley, and Gwangmyeong-Siheung Technovalley in 2021, and then accelerate construction on all Technovalley projects including Yangju Technovalley and Yongin Platform City in 2022.

The province also plans to concretize the creation of Phase 3 new cities with joint participation from the private sector, government, and public corporations from the planning stage. The province plans to establish a roadmap for new cities this year by launching district plan development for Phase 3 new cities such as Wangsuk in Namyangju and Gyosan in Hanam. The province has decided to introduce strategies for eco-friendly, environment-conscious, and new transportation systems, including complex cities where workplaces and culture coexist, establishment of neighborhood park systems, activation of personal mobility and hydrogen economy, and TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) transportation systems.
To create urban spaces centered on the environment, the conversion of polluting factories near Anyang Yeonhyeon Village—which has received attention as the number-one civil affairs issue of Governor Lee Jae-myung—into a citizen park will be accelerated. This year, the province plans to apply the asphalt factory site in Anyang Yeonhyeon Village as a target site for restoration of degraded areas in development restriction zones, and plans to confirm the restoration target site and determine park facilities next year, with completion of the citizen park by 2023.
The creation of renewable energy-friendly industrial complexes incorporating thermal heating and cooling energy using regional water sources will also be concretized. Using the Gwangmyeong-Siheung Advanced Urban Industrial Complex as a pilot project, the province plans to lead the Green New Deal by establishing institutional improvements and standards, and expanding the promotion of eco-friendly industrial complexes targeting various large-scale development projects.
To implement residential welfare for common people, the province will supply 200,000 public rental housing units by 2022. The province plans to expand support for residential allowances, rental deposits for low-income rental housing purchases, and housing modifications for people with disabilities to reach a larger number of beneficiaries.

The province also plans to stably supply customized happiness housing tailored to different groups such as youth and newlyweds. By 2022, Gyeonggi Happiness Housing will supply 10,000 units, and the province has decided to introduce non-contact residential environments such as the Smart-OnePass system in preparation for the post-COVID era. The Smart-OnePass system refers to a system that enables non-contact living through automatic opening of shared entrance doors via smart keys and elevator calls.

To strengthen real estate public interest, the province plans to expand the 'public development profit return system for residents,' one of Governor Lee's core election promises. Gyeonggi Province has implemented the residents' return system targeting Gwanggyo New City Gyeonggi Convergence Town, Pyeongtaek and Paju regional development industrial complex, and Dasan New City. The 'public development profit return system for residents' is a system that prevents development profits generated from various development projects from being excessively privatized by specific groups, and reinvests them in rental housing or public facilities for the benefit of residents. The province plans to promote amendments to related laws and regulations while pursuing the discovery of candidate sites for new projects.
By operating a speculative real estate monitoring system to thoroughly identify illegal activities and pinpointing land transaction permit zones to block speculative land investment at the source, the province will continue to promote real estate brokerage fee support projects for low-income residents.

The province plans to promote crime prevention urban environment design projects to establish crime prevention infrastructure in vulnerable areas, selecting five locations annually to implement a total of 25 locations by 2022. Additionally, the province plans to promote green remodeling of aging public buildings used by vulnerable groups to reduce building energy consumption, protect vulnerable populations, and create jobs.

Director Hong Ji-seon stated, "During the first half of the seventh term, we have worked to realize 'fairness' in urban and housing policies through the introduction of the public development profit return system for residents, creation of rest spaces for management workers, and designation of land transaction permit zones. In the latter half, we will prioritize identifying inconveniences and shortages from residents' perspectives and actively promote appropriate countermeasures accordingly," she said.