The standing of 'Suwon,' the southern hub city of the Seoul metropolitan area, is wavering. As the largest-scale Hwaseong Dongtan 1 and 2 New Cities are developed, population outflow is expected to accelerate, and with future visions centered on tourism and cutting-edge industries being similar between the two cities, competition between local governments appears inevitable.
To the east of Hwaseong Dongtan 1 New City (9.03 million㎡, 40,921 households), a Dongtan 2 New City spanning 23.4 million㎡ will be developed. With a total development area of 31 million㎡ for both Dongtan 1 and 2 New Cities and incoming households numbering 146,000 households (inflowing population of 365,000), a massive city is being born. This new city, the largest scale in the Seoul metropolitan area, is assessed as having high potential to emerge as a 'transportation hub' and center of southern regional industry.
An official from the Korea Land Corporation, the developer of Dongtan 2 New City, stated, "The development concept has been set to construct a complex 'knowledge creation city' combining Samsung Semiconductor in Dongtan 1 New City with business, cutting-edge industries, culture, design, and environment in the 2 New City," adding, "Upon completion of development, the largest industrial belt in the metropolitan area will be established."
Hwaseong City also unveiled plans through its 2020 Basic Urban Plan to cultivate Dongtan New City development in line with fostering advanced industrial production bases centered on electronics information and BT biotechnology, while positioning itself as the center of West Coast marine leisure through hosting events such as the International Boat Show.
This is similar to Suwon City's vision of intensively fostering cutting-edge industries centered on Samsung Electronics and Suwon Industrial Complex and tourism industries linked to Hwaseong Fortress, creating a pollution-free green city. This signals fierce competition anticipated between neighboring local governments for attracting tourists and businesses.
Experts have expressed the view that considering the shift in the Seoul metropolitan area's development axis, long-term development conditions, and accessibility, Suwon, an administrative hub city, cannot be seen as holding advantageous ground compared to Dongtan. Consequently, if Suwon fails to form a broader living area encompassing Dongtan New City, its standing as a hub city could be shaken.
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