Gyeonggi Province to Build Administrative Town in Gwanggyo New City

Gyeonggi Province is constructing an administrative town in Gwanggyo New City in preparation for future changes in administrative demand.

According to the Province on the 9th, the administrative town, which will house the Provincial Government building and Provincial Assembly headquarters, will perform complex functions beyond the mere function of public offices, including cultural, welfare, and commercial functions.

In particular, the administrative town will be developed in organic coordination with key facilities in Gwanggyo New City, such as Gwanggyo Techno Valley, commercial and business sites, and a convention center, maximizing its functions and accessibility.

◇Future-type 'Integrated Administrative Town'= The administrative town will be built on 119,196㎡ within the Gwanggyo New City residential development district in Suwon and Yongin by June 2012.

The Province initially plans to construct a government building spanning 2 basement levels to 20 stories above ground with a total floor area of 115,700㎡, relocating the Provincial Government headquarters (total floor area of 85,950㎡) and the Provincial Assembly (total floor area of 29,752㎡).

The government building will be equipped with facilities related to administrative, civil service, and assembly operations, as well as convenience facilities such as plazas, parks, restaurants, convenience shops, and parking lots.

In particular, the Province plans to introduce cultural and welfare facilities such as exhibition halls and libraries, as well as private office and commercial facilities into the building, developing it into an integrated administrative town with diverse functions rather than a simple public building.

The Province also plans to examine ways to relocate additional subsidiary agencies, affiliated organizations, and business divisions of the Province through consultations with related departments.

◇Organic Linkage with Surrounding Facilities Increases Accessibility= The Province plans to develop the administrative town in coordination with surrounding central business districts and create a convenient transportation and pedestrian environment, maximizing the functions and accessibility of the integrated administrative town.

To this end, the Province will designate 180,000 pyeong comprising the center axis of Gwanggyo New City, including the administrative town, as a special planning zone and develop each facility in organic coordination according to the 'Urban Center Master Plan.'

Specifically, the strategy is to involve world-renowned architects in the 1.4㎞central district where key facilities of Gwanggyo New City, such as the administrative town, Gwanggyo Techno Valley, Convention Center, and Business Park, will be located, creating a world-class landmark.

In particular, the administrative town and other facilities will be connected by pedestrian decks and civic plazas, and a transit center linked to the Shinbundang Line extension station will be built near the administrative town to further enhance accessibility.

For the transit center, underground levels 1 to 3 will feature subway, local and intercity bus platforms, as well as rest and performance facilities, while the ground level will feature taxi platforms and green spaces and plazas, and the Province plans to examine ways to develop it three-dimensionally.

◇Future Implementation Schedule= The Province will hold a public hearing on the 10th for the construction of the administrative town and plan to begin feasibility studies for the master plan around September, reflecting opinions gathered at the hearing.

After the master plan is confirmed, the Province plans to proceed with basic design and select qualified bidders for detailed design, with groundbreaking scheduled for July 2009 and completion for June 2012.

Based on the construction of the Provincial Government headquarters and Assembly building, the Province estimates that a total project cost of 569 billion won will be required, including land acquisition costs and construction expenses.

To secure funding, the Province is examining plans to utilize proceeds from the sale of shared assets of business divisions and subsidiary agencies, or to allocate budgets from special accounting for public enterprises and general accounting budgets including the Government Building Maintenance Fund.