Special Report Suwon Addresses Long-Standing Projects One After Another

[Suwon Ilbo = Reporter Jung Jun-sung] In January, Suwon Special City designated and announced a 350,000-square-meter area in Ipbuk-dong, Gwonseon-gu—the site for the Suwon R&D; Science Park—as an urban development zone. The long-cherished 'Suwon R&D; Science Park Development Project' has finally entered full operation.

According to the urban development zone designation announcement, activities that could interfere with the project—such as construction and land-use changes—are restricted within the designated area. The city plans to proceed without delay through subsequent procedures including compensation plan formulation and implementation plan approval before commencing construction.

The city's long-standing projects are being resolved successively. In December 2023, regulations on the Suwon Hwaseong Historic and Cultural Environment Preservation Area were eased, and in April of last year, regulations on the greenbelt development restriction area for the Suwon R&D; Science Park development site were lifted. In September of last year, the 'Suwon Film Urban Regeneration Innovation District' was selected as a national pilot site in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Urban Regeneration Innovation District competition.

Easing Regulations for Deteriorated Suwon Hwaseong Surrounding Area

The area surrounding Suwon Hwaseong, designated as a historic and cultural environment preservation area, has had difficulties with development due to building height restrictions, resulting in deteriorating buildings and village decline. Suwon City has made consistent efforts to address the difficulties of residents living in the preservation area and has finally achieved regulation easing.

In December 2023, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced an 'Adjustment of Allowable Building Standards within the Historic and Cultural Environment Preservation Area of Historic Site Suwon Hwaseong,' which eased the building permit criteria around Suwon Hwaseong. With the regulatory easing, the area 200-500 meters from the outer boundary of Suwon Hwaseong now comes under the application of Suwon City's urban planning ordinances and related laws.

The historic and cultural environment preservation area is a buffer zone between cultural heritage and surrounding areas, protecting the value of the cultural heritage. It is set within 500 meters from the outer boundary, with building heights regulated.

Regulation of the area surrounding Suwon Hwaseong began in 2008, and in 2010 a regulation standard revision announcement was made, restricting building heights from a minimum of 8 meters to a maximum of 51 meters by section within a 500-meter radius outside the fortress walls. The historic and cultural environment preservation area of Suwon Hwaseong accounts for 4.2% of Suwon City's total area.

With the regulatory easing, the 200-500 meter radius zone outside Suwon Hwaseong can now be handled under Suwon City's urban planning ordinances and related laws. The zone has an area of 2.19 million square meters with 4,408 buildings. With building height restrictions removed, redevelopment and reconstruction projects can now be pursued.

The city has consistently petitioned the Cultural Heritage Administration to "ease regulations" to resolve the inconvenience of residents living in the preservation area.

The city held a 'Suwon Hwaseong Historic and Cultural Environment Preservation Area Improvement Policy Discussion Forum' with local residents and experts to discuss regulatory improvement measures and held meetings with local lawmakers and the Cultural Heritage Administration to discuss the 'Suwon Hwaseong Historic and Cultural Environment Preservation Area Adjustment Plan.'

Promoting Suwon R&D; Science Park Development Project After Multiple Setbacks

The designation and announcement of the urban development zone for the Suwon R&D; Science Park site is a result achieved 14 years after the initial plan was established. The site has faced repeated setbacks in project promotion due to greenbelt development restrictions.

After persistent consultations with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the city achieved the outcome of 'greenbelt restriction lifting' in April of last year. Subsequently, consultations with relevant agencies and deliberation by the Suwon City Planning Committee were completed, and administrative preparation was finalized.

The R&D; Science Park development project aims to establish a research complex equipped with cutting-edge technology in the Ipbuk-dong area, Lot 484, Gwonseon-gu. The goal is to attract advanced research enterprises in artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and biotechnology, and to leap forward as a 'Global Advanced R&D; Hub' leading the world.

The city plans to pursue designation of a 'Suwon Economic Free Zone' centered on the R&D; Science Park and Tapdong Innovation Valley to create a Korean-style Silicon Valley.

First Steps in 'Suwon Film Urban Regeneration Innovation District' Development Project After 20+ Years of Stagnation

The Suwon Film Urban Regeneration Innovation District development project, which had stagnated for more than 20 years, finally takes its first steps. The urban regeneration innovation district project is an urban regeneration project that creates economic hubs in declining urban areas and establishes regional hubs where industry, commerce, and residence are concentrated. Through selection in the competition, the city receives government funding, provincial funding, and housing and urban development funds. Additionally, building restrictions are eased and administrative support is available.

The Suwon Film Urban Regeneration Innovation District (around Lot 152-8, Younghwa-dong, Jangan-gu) is a site planned by the city and Gyeonggi Province to prevent haphazard development around Suwon Hwaseong and to establish cultural facilities near Suwon Hwaseong.

The city concluded a joint business agreement with Gyeonggi Tourism Organization in 2004 and held two rounds of private investment project competitions in 2007 and 2011 to promote private development projects, but efforts ended in disappointment, and the site has been used as a temporary parking lot since 2013.

The city applied for the urban regeneration innovation district candidate site competition in June 2024 and concluded a business agreement with Gyeonggi Tourism Organization and Suwon Urban Development Corporation in July to jointly promote the urban regeneration innovation district project and cultural tourism promotion project.

The project will be implemented through investment from Suwon City, Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, and Suwon Urban Development Corporation. The project will be promoted through 2030. Plans include creating tourism and commercial hub spaces and public and cultural complex spaces.

The city plans to develop the Younghwa Urban Regeneration Innovation District as △a global cultural tourism center △a regional cooperation and local economy hub △an urban regeneration anchor space. The establishment of the Younghwa Urban Regeneration Innovation District is expected to revitalize the declining and deteriorated old downtown area and inject vitality into residents and small business owners in the old city area.

A city official stated, "Resolving long-standing projects will become a driver for further development of Suwon City," and added, "We will continue to make efforts to resolve the citizens' long-cherished goals."