Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun: "Suwon Gyeonggi Economic Free Zone Designation Will Make Suwon a Hub for Advanced Scientific Research in South Korea"

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

Mayor Lee Jae-jun said at the 'Policy Discussion Conference for Suwon Gyeonggi Economic Free Zone Designation' held on the 25th in Conference Room 1 of the National Assembly Members Hall, "We will attract research-focused companies to the Suwon Gyeonggi Economic Free Zone to create an 'advanced industrial ecosystem.'" He added, "Suwon will focus on advanced technology research fields to realize 'research in Suwon, manufacturing in provinces,' and will take the lead in South Korea's balanced development."

At the discussion conference hosted by Representatives Baek Hye-ryeon (Suwon City-2), Kim Young-jin (Suwon City-3), Kim Seung-won (Suwon City-1), Kim Jun-hyeok (Suwon City-4), and Yeom Tae-young (Suwon City-5), and organized by Suwon City, strategic implementation measures for the Suwon Gyeonggi Economic Free Zone were discussed. The discussion conference proceeded with opening remarks by Mayor Lee Jae-jun, congratulatory remarks from Suwon's local National Assembly members, keynote presentations and expert discussions, and question-and-answer sessions.

The conference was attended by Representatives Baek Hye-ryeon, Kim Young-jin, Kim Seung-won, Kim Jun-hyeok, and Yeom Tae-young, Suwon Special Metropolitan City Council Speaker Lee Jae-sik, Vice Speaker Kim Jung-ryeol, and other city council members.

Professor Kim Hyun-soo of Dankook University's Department of Urban Planning and Real Estate gave a presentation on 'Semiconductor Industry Competitiveness and Work-Residential Proximity R&D Special Zone Strategy,' and Vice Research Fellow Yoon Jung-jae of the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements presented on 'Suwon Gyeonggi Economic Free Zone Strategy and Role.'

■ Has Potential to Grow into a World-Class R&D Cluster

Professor Kim Hyun-soo said, "The Suwon Gyeonggi Economic Free Zone designation area has 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 great force in enhancing national competitiveness and achieving balanced development."

Vice Research Fellow Yoon Jung-jae of the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements said, "Suwon is the optimal location for research and development (R&D) that combines software from the Seoul metropolitan area and hardware from southern Gyeonggi Province," and explained, "Centered on Suwon, a national semiconductor advanced belt is formed by connecting the Gyeongbu axis (Pangyo, Yongin, Hwaseong, Pyeongtaek, and Icheon), and the bioindustry is connected to the West Coast axis (Paju to Hyangnam)."

■ Must Create a Cooperative Role-Sharing System Between Seoul Metropolitan Area and Non-Metropolitan Regions

He continued, "With a cooperative role-sharing system where the Seoul metropolitan area handles innovation and research and development, and non-metropolitan regions handle production and specialized functions, we can simultaneously realize inter-free zone cooperation and strengthening of national competitiveness," and said, "Suwon can play a central role."

Expert discussions were moderated by Park Gwan-min, Chairman of Suwon City Investment Attraction Advisory Council, and attended by Hong Jin-gi, Director of the Local Industry Location Research Institute, Professor Hong Young-joon of Sungkyunkwan University's Department of Nano Science and Technology, Andrew Kim, CEO of Laser Bac Technology Co., Ltd., and Kim Seong-jin, Director of Suwon City Research Institute.

Director Hong Jin-gi of the Local Industry Location Research Institute said, "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 industry linked to semiconductor research and development,'" and noted, "From the perspective of 'securing prior investment demand' required in the actual process of designating an economic free zone, it will be necessary to reestablish the concept of the Suwon Gyeonggi Economic Free Zone considering foreign investment demand."

■ Suwon is One of the Most Suitable Cities as a Research and Development-Centered Hub

Professor Hong Young-joon of Sungkyunkwan University said, "Suwon has key research infrastructure such as the Korea Nano Technology Center (KANC), excellent research personnel and a pool of student talent, and an R&D Science Park site," and explained, "Suwon is one of the most suitable cities as a research and development-centered hub to lead the development of compound semiconductor technology self-reliance and next-generation industrial competitiveness."

He continued, "The Suwon Gyeonggi Economic Free Zone should not be a mere regional development project, but rather should become a national experiment and strategic choice for South Korea to take another leap forward in the fields of compound semiconductors and advanced strategic industries."

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

Andrew Kim, CEO of Laser Bac Technology Co., Ltd., said, "Since relocating our headquarters and research institute to Suwon in 2024, hiring key personnel has become much easier, and the speed of collaboration with major customers Samsung Electronics and partner companies in Pangyo and Ansan has accelerated," and stated, "Suwon is a prepared city with talent, industry, and demand." He added, "The designation as an economic free zone will be a decision to upgrade the already-formed advanced industrial ecosystem to meet global competition standards."

Kim Seong-jin, Director of Suwon City Research Institute, said, "The designation of the Suwon Gyeonggi Economic Free Zone is a national decision to revitalize South Korea's weakening basic economic capacity due to low birth rates, low growth, and investment slowdown," and emphasized, "By combining Suwon's research and development infrastructure with specialized industries in non-metropolitan regions, we can drive national balanced development."