Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-joon: "Suwon Will Become Hub of Advanced Scientific Research in Korea with Designation of Suwon Gyeonggi Economic Free Zone"

[Suwon Ilbo = Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-joon said, "With the designation of the Suwon Gyeonggi Economic Free Zone, Suwon will be able to serve as a hub of advanced scientific research in Korea."

Mayor Lee expressed these remarks at the 'Policy Forum for Designation of Suwon Gyeonggi Economic Free Zone' held on the 25th in Seminar Room 1 of the National Assembly Members' Hall, stating, "We will attract research-focused companies to the Suwon Gyeonggi Economic Free Zone to create an 'advanced industrial ecosystem,'" and added, "Suwon will concentrate on advanced technology research fields to realize 'research in Suwon, manufacturing in local regions,' and will take the lead in Korea's balanced regional development."

The forum, hosted by lawmakers Baek Hye-ryeon (Suwon City District 2), Kim Young-jin (Suwon City District 3), Kim Seung-won (Suwon City District 1), Kim Jun-hyuk (Suwon City District 4), and Yeom Tae-young (Suwon City District 5), and organized by Suwon City, explored strategic implementation plans for the Suwon Gyeonggi Economic Free Zone. The forum proceeded with opening remarks by Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-joon, followed by congratulatory addresses from Suwon area lawmakers, keynote presentations and expert discussions, and a question-and-answer session.

Lawmakers Baek Hye-ryeon, Kim Young-jin, Kim Seung-won, Kim Jun-hyuk, and Yeom Tae-young, Suwon Special Metropolitan City Council Chairman Lee Jae-sik, Vice Chairman Kim Jeong-ryul, and other city council members attended the forum.

Professor Kim Hyun-soo from Dankook University's Department of Urban Planning and Real Estate delivered a presentation on 'Competitiveness of the Semiconductor Industry and R&D; Special Zone Strategy for Work-Residence Balance,' while Associate Research Fellow Yun Jung-jae from the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements presented on 'Strategy and Role of Suwon in the Gyeonggi Economic Free Zone.'

■ Possesses Potential to Grow into World-Class R&D; Cluster

Professor Kim Hyun-soo stated, "The Suwon Gyeonggi Economic Free Zone designated area possesses the potential to grow into a world-class R&D; cluster if designated as an economic free zone," and added, "The Suwon Gyeonggi Economic Free Zone will be a major force in enhancing national competitiveness and achieving balanced regional development."

Associate Research Fellow Yun Jung-jae from the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements explained, "Suwon is the optimal location for research and development (R&D;) that combines software in the Seoul metropolitan area with hardware in southern Gyeonggi Province," and stated, "Centered on Suwon, a nation's largest semiconductor advanced belt is formed connecting the Gyeongbu axis (Pangyo, Yongin, Hwaseong, Pyeongtaek, and Icheon), and the biotech industry is linked via the West Coast axis (Paju to Hyangnam)."

■ System of Role Division Between Metropolitan and Non-Metropolitan Regions Must Be Established

He continued, "Through a symbiotic role-division system where the metropolitan area handles innovation and research and development, and non-metropolitan regions handle production and specialized functions, cooperation among nationwide economic free zones and strengthened national competitiveness can be simultaneously realized," and stated, "Suwon can play a central role."

Expert discussions were moderated by Park Kwan-min, chairman of Suwon City's investment attraction advisory group, and included Hong Jin-gi, director of the Regional Industry Location Research Institute, Hong Young-joon, professor of Nano Science and Technology at Sungkyunkwan University, Andrew Kim, CEO of Laser Volt Technology Co., Ltd., and Kim Sung-jin, director of the Suwon Research Institute for City Policy.

Hong Jin-gi, director of the Regional Industry Location Research Institute, stated, "The feasibility of promoting the Suwon Gyeonggi Economic Free Zone can be said to depend on the scale of foreign investment in the field of 'advanced industries linked to semiconductor research and development,'" and added, "From the perspective of 'securing pre-investment demand' required in the actual economic free zone designation process, it will be necessary to reestablish the concept of the Suwon Gyeonggi Economic Free Zone in consideration of foreign investment demand."

■ Suwon is One of the Most Suitable Cities as a Research and Development Center

Sungkyunkwan University Professor Hong Young-joon explained, "Suwon has core research infrastructure such as the Korea Nano Technology Center (KANC), excellent research personnel and talent pools of students, and R&D; science park sites," and stated, "Suwon is one of the most suitable cities to serve as a research and development center to lead technological independence in compound semiconductors and next-generation industrial competitiveness."

He continued, "The Suwon Gyeonggi Economic Free Zone should not be a simple regional development project, but rather a national experiment and strategic choice for Korea to make another leap forward in the compound semiconductor and advanced strategic industry sectors."

■ "Suwon is a Prepared City with Talent, Industry, and Demand"

Andrew Kim, CEO of Laser Volt Technology Co., Ltd., stated, "After relocating the headquarters and research institute to Suwon in 2024, hiring of core personnel has become much easier, and the pace of collaboration with major clients such as Samsung Electronics and partner companies in Pangyo and Ansan has accelerated," and revealed, "Suwon is a prepared city with talent, industry, and demand." He further expressed, "The designation as an economic free zone will be a decisive step to upgrade the already-formed advanced industrial ecosystem to meet global competition standards."

Kim Sung-jin, director of the Suwon Research Institute for City Policy, emphasized, "The designation of the Suwon Gyeonggi Economic Free Zone is a national decision to revitalize the weakening fundamental strength of Korea, which is being weakened by low birth rates, low growth, and sluggish investment," and stated, "By combining Suwon's research and development infrastructure with specialized industries in non-metropolitan regions, national balanced regional development can be driven."