'Gyeonggi Yongin Platform City' Designated as Urban Development Zone...Local-led Third New City Initiative in Full Swing

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun Reporter] The local-led Third New City 'Gyeonggi Yongin Platform City,' jointly carried out by Gyeonggi Province, Yongin City, Gyeonggi Housing & Urban Development Corporation, and Yongin Urban Development Corporation, is expected to accelerate project implementation with its designation as an urban development zone.

Yongin City announced on the 5th the 'Designation of Gyeonggi Yongin Platform City as Urban Development Zone, Topographic Map, and Project Recognition.'

Previously, Gyeonggi Yongin Platform City signed a memorandum of understanding between joint project operators on May 7, 2019, to ensure successful project implementation.

Following this, the project went through a residents' public hearing, strategic environmental impact assessment, and central Land Expropriation Committee project recognition consultation. On the 24th of last month, the designation plan for Gyeonggi Yongin Platform City urban development zone passed deliberation by Yongin City's Urban Planning Committee.

In particular, the project secured consent from more than half of landowners within the project site (57.53%), smoothly completing the project recognition consultation at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Central Land Expropriation Committee.

The Gyeonggi Yongin Platform City urban development project will be developed across approximately 2,757,186㎡ (approximately 830,000 pyeong) in Bojeong-dong, Mabuk-dong, and Singal-dong, Giheung-gu, Yongin City, with total project costs of approximately 6.2851 trillion won.

The development plan has been established with the goal of creating a GTX-based transportation hub, an economically self-sufficient city, and an eco-friendly city, aiming for future development as a new growth hub in southern Seoul metropolitan area.

Located at Singal Junction, where the Gyeongbu and Yeongdong expressways intersect, Gyeonggi Yongin Platform City will benefit from improved accessibility to major business districts in Seoul (Gangnam, Samsung, etc.) with the opening of the GTX-A line (Yongin Station). Plans include introducing a multi-modal transit center, knowledge-based advanced industries, commercial, and residential functions.

Additionally, meticulous efforts will be made in establishing population, housing, and land-use plans to enable the city to serve as a supporting city for the Gyeonggi Semiconductor Cluster.
In particular, to achieve synergy effects with the 'Gyeonggi Semiconductor Cluster' and to attract new businesses suited to the Fourth Industrial Revolution era, development plans are being established for advanced knowledge industry sites and advanced manufacturing industry sites totaling approximately 440,000㎡ within the urban development zone.

Furthermore, plans are underway to restore forests within the project area and create green spaces organically connecting Platform Park and parks within the city to ensure the development becomes an eco-friendly city with high residential satisfaction.

Gyeonggi Province, Yongin City, and other joint project operators plan to commence compensation work and establish development plans in 2021, obtain approval of implementation plans in 2022, and begin site development construction in 2023.

Hong Ji-seon, Director of Urban Housing at Gyeonggi Province, stated, "Unlike other state-led Third New Cities, Gyeonggi Yongin Platform City is a 'local-led Third New City' led by local governments and local corporations," and added, "The policies of the seventh mayoral term are well reflected in the project plan, and we will concentrate all available resources to ensure development as a new growth hub in southern Seoul metropolitan area."