Kim Dong-yeon Announces 'Three Opportunity Town Projects' in Gyeonggi Province

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Kap-dong] Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon announced the 'Three Opportunity Town Projects' that will become new landmarks in Gyeonggi Province, declaring a city where 'my life gets better.'

The 'Three Opportunity Towns' to be created by 2030 are △Suwon World Cup Stadium △Yongin Platform City △Indeokwon Station area in Anyang.

Governor Kim held a press conference at the outdoor plaza of Suwon World Cup Stadium on the 11th to unveil the vision for the 'Three Opportunity Town Projects.'

Governor Kim stated, "Today marks the day when this site (Suwon World Cup Stadium), which has been left idle for more than 20 years, is reborn as a new space that changes the lives of residents." He then declared, "Through Gyeonggi Province's Three Opportunity Town Projects, I will create a city where 'my life gets better.'"

Governor Kim Dong-yeon said, "The Three Opportunity Towns will reduce the distance between workplace and home, cut commute time and costs, and increase opportunities to enjoy leisure and rest." He explained, "An Opportunity Town is a place where 'my life gets better' with the time and money saved."

■ Three 'New Landmarks' Are Like This

◇ Uman Techno Valley (Suwon World Cup Stadium idle site)

As Governor Kim explained, this site has been left idle for more than 20 years. However, through an agreement between Gyeonggi Province, Suwon City, and the World Cup Foundation, it has been included in the Opportunity Town project and is being reborn as a landmark. A total of 2.7 trillion won will be invested, with groundbreaking scheduled for next year and completion targeted for the end of 2030. Gyeonggi Province, Suwon City, the World Cup Foundation, Gyeonggi Housing & Urban Development Corporation (GH), and Suwon Urban Development Corporation will participate as project implementers.

Governor Kim emphasized, "This site was not used as a sports facility for a long time and was only used as a parking lot, but it has excellent living infrastructure nearby, including universities and university hospitals, and excellent transportation infrastructure as the 'World Cup Stadium Station' on the Shinbundang Line and the Indeokwon-Dongtan Line is scheduled to open."

He added, "Through the development of Uman Techno Valley, we will create 10,000 jobs. By additionally creating sports facilities that can create synergy effects with the existing World Cup Stadium infrastructure, we will also expand Gyeonggi Province's sports infrastructure."

Governor Kim stated in particular that at 'Uman Techno Valley,' "there will be a professional sports space optimized for training and an athlete village that systematically manages accommodation and meals, and we will build a multipurpose indoor gymnasium and indoor sports facilities so people can enjoy them anytime without weather concerns. We will create a 'sports town' for both athletes and local residents." He added, "The development gains from the site will become a stable revenue source for the World Cup Foundation and will serve as a foundation for Gyeonggi Province's sports development."

◇ Yongin Platform City

Gyeonggi Province, Yongin City, GH, and Yongin Urban Development Corporation will invest 8.2 trillion won, with groundbreaking scheduled for this month and completion targeted for the end of 2030.

Regarding the second project, Yongin Platform City, Governor Kim said, "It will become the largest Opportunity Town in Gyeonggi Province," and stated, "We will develop it as a 'future-type self-sufficient complex city.'" He added, "We will provide a residential environment where jobs, commerce, culture, and leisure can all be resolved in one place."

Governor Kim stated, "On a vast site of 136,000 pyeong, comparable to Pangyo's first phase, we will create a techno valley to generate 55,000 jobs," and promised, "We will supply 10,000 housing units and develop it into a sustainable urban model where workplace and living space are in harmony."

He also said, "The large-scale advanced industrial complex will form one axis of the AI industry belt, and will create jobs in future industries based on AI," and was confident that "MICE facilities such as convention centers and hotels, as well as commercial and cultural spaces, will become new landmarks for southern Gyeonggi Province."

Yongin Platform City is also located in a station area with excellent transportation infrastructure. The nearby Gouseong Station is served by two lines—GTX-A and the Suin-Bundang Line—and is located above Singal Junction (JC), where the Gyeongbu and Yeongdong Expressways pass.

◇ Indeokwon Station Area

On a 150,000 square meter site in the Indeokwon area, a techno valley will be created to supply 511 public rental housing units targeting young people and newlywed couples. The total project cost is estimated at 1.01 trillion won. GH, Anyang City, and Anyang Urban Development Corporation will participate as project implementers, with groundbreaking scheduled for the end of this year and completion targeted for the end of 2027.

Governor Kim said, "Currently, Subway Line 4 passes through here, and when the Indeokwon-Dongtan Line, Wolgot-Pangyo Line, and GTX-C Line open in the future, a 'quadruple station area' will be formed," and stated, "Centered on a complex transfer hub for the quadruple transportation network, we will create a compact city with advanced technology and design applied."

He then said, "At this ultra-prime station area infrastructure, startup and venture companies, commercial and leisure facilities will be located, creating approximately 5,000 jobs."

Regarding the 'Indeokwon Opportunity Town,' Governor Kim stated, "We will develop it as a sustainable 'eco-friendly city' model." Governor Kim said, "The water thermal energy introduced for the first time in an Opportunity Town and RE100 apartments will become a leading example of a carbon-neutral town," and added, "The revolution in public transportation centered on the complex transfer facility will also play a major role in reducing carbon emissions."

■ All of Gyeonggi Province's 'Opportunity Towns' Will Become 'Climate Towns'

Governor Kim announced that all Opportunity Towns except Indeokwon will be transformed into Climate Towns. This is a plan to change the 'energy paradigm' of the entire city.

Governor Kim said, "Equipped with renewable energy generation facilities such as solar and small-scale wind power, we will produce 30% of the energy consumed ourselves," and stated, "By utilizing insulation and daylighting to enhance the energy performance of buildings, we will reduce energy consumption by 40%. We are also proposing ways to increase energy self-sufficiency with 'zero-energy buildings' as the goal."

Governor Kim said, "The Three Opportunity Towns are all located in station areas. We will install complex transfer facilities to make public transportation more convenient and reduce carbon emissions in daily life," and stated, "We will transform them into 'RE100 cities' that achieve carbon neutrality through residential life and daily living itself."

■ Opportunity Towns as 'Embodiment of People-Centered Economy'

Governor Kim revealed his vision to complete Gyeonggi Province's industrial belt through the creation of Opportunity Towns.

Governor Kim said, "A year ago, I spoke about Gyeonggi Province's five major industrial belts," and stated, "The 'Three Opportunity Towns' will serve as hubs connecting and expanding five industrial belts," explaining, "Uman Techno Valley will serve as a hub connecting the AI knowledge industry belt in southern Gyeonggi Province to the bio belt extending to northern Gyeonggi Province, Yongin Platform City will connect to Dongtan Techno Valley, the semiconductor mecca, creating a single ecosystem for the AI and semiconductor industries, and the Indeokwon Opportunity Town will serve as a key link organically connecting the tech valleys in southern Gyeonggi Province."

Governor Kim Dong-yeon stated, "Economic development, regional development, and regional development should not only grow the city and nation but also improve the quality of life of each individual resident," and emphasized, "Gyeonggi Province has pursued improved quality of life and sustainable growth through 'people-centered' investment. The Gyeonggi Opportunity Towns are an embodiment of 'people-centered economy.'"