The Ministry of Science and ICT selects six new research and development special zones.
Gumi, Seoul Hongneung, Ulju, Naju, Gunsan, Cheonan/Asan
32 research institutes established in the Gangwon Special Economic Zone last year.


On the 27th, the Ministry of Science and ICT designated six new research and development special zones after deliberation and resolution at the 34th Research and Development Special Zone Committee.

The Gangso Special Zone is a research and development special zone model that aims to become a small-scale, high-density public technology commercialization base centered on core technology institutions such as universities and research institutes.

When designated as a special zone, the region receives administrative and financial support, including technology commercialization funds, infrastructure, tax benefits, and regulatory exemptions.

To foster regionally-led, small and medium-sized special economic zones, the six newly designated special economic zones have established customized strategies that link their innovative resources to each stage of technology commercialization (discovery of promising commercialization technologies → technology transfer → support for corporate growth).

The special economic zones in Seoul (Hongneung), Ulsan (Ulju), South Jeolla Province (Naju), and South Chungcheong Province (Cheonan and Asan) plan to operate by linking and utilizing the innovative capabilities, including excellent human resources, infrastructure, and networks, of key technology institutions at all stages of technology commercialization.

The Gyeongbuk (Gumi) and Jeonbuk (Gunsan) special economic zones are based on public-private cooperation, such as reflecting private demand and supporting market development through collaboration with private demand sources such as large and medium-sized enterprises located in the region.We plan to foster .

The Ministry of Science and ICT stated, “The six designated special economic zones are expected to have direct and indirect economic ripple effects, such as attracting 1,767 companies, creating 13,771 jobs, and increasing sales by 34.2 trillion won by 2025.”


Achievements of the Gangwon Research and Development Special Zone and Future Designation and Operation Directions
To mark the first anniversary of the designation of the Gangso Special Zone, the achievements of the Gangso Special Zones designated last year (Gyeonggi (Ansan), Gyeongnam (Gimhae, Jinju, Changwon), Gyeongbuk (Pohang), and Chungbuk (Cheongju)) and the future designation and operation directions of the Gangso Special Zones were also reported to this Special Zone Committee.

As of June 2020, 32 new research institutes were established, and 9.7 billion won worth of private investment was attracted. In addition to quantitative growth, qualitative growth is also taking place, such as the reorganization of regional industrial structures centered on specialized fields, explained an official from the Ministry of Science and ICT.

Biok Co., Ltd., a clinical data platform specialist, relocated from Pangyo, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, to Gimhae, and Nopion Co., Ltd., an ICT application composite material company, relocated from Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, to Ansan.

In relation to future operations, in addition to limiting the number of special economic zones to the total area of the hinterland (20 km2), the maximum number of designated special economic zones will be limited to 17, and in the case of the metropolitan area, the principle of one special economic zone per metropolitan area has been established.

In addition, through a comprehensive evaluation of the Gangso Special Zone in the future, a differential allocation of budget will be implemented for each special zone, and if necessary, the Gangso Special Zone It was also confirmed that they would consider lifting the ban.

The revision of the Research and Development Special Zone Act in May of this year established a legal basis for special cases of new technology demonstration within special zones. Furthermore, the direction of introducing a new technology demonstration test bed in a research and development special zone, which integrates infrastructure, administrative, and financial support centered on laws and systems, was also reported.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced that it plans to complete the revision of relevant subordinate statutes by the end of this year and establish guidelines for the operation of special cases for new technology demonstration, thereby striving to ensure that research and development special zones become cradles for the creation of new technologies.