Eunpyeong-gu, Promoting the New Innovation Park with Local Residents

Seoul City Conducts Basic Concept Technical Service for Seoul Innovation Park Development Site... Plans to Build a Children's Complex Cultural Facility Suitable for the 4th Industrial Revolution Era

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] A place where you can experience virtual and augmented reality (VR·AR), a place where local residents can watch performances and enjoy festivals, a place where fresh new university students can pursue their dreams, and a complex cultural facility for children will be newly created.

This will take place at the New Innovation Park (around 7 Nokbeon-dong), promoted by Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung).

The Seoul Innovation Park, originally established by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in Eunpyeong-gu, was a youth and social innovation complex opened by Mayor Park Won-soon to address youth, culture, education, and environment. This space is being transformed by Eunpyeong-gu by adding local characteristics into a new New Innovation Park.

The New Innovation Park project is an ongoing initiative from 2018 to 2022, conducted annually with the goal of expanding resident participation and shared innovation spaces. Currently, it is known that the Seoul Metropolitan Government is conducting technical research on the basic concept for the development site of Seoul Innovation Park, including plans for the construction of the second campus of the University of Seoul and the relocation of the Seoul Institute.

Once the relocation of the Seoul Institute, part of the balanced development plan between Gangnam and Gangbuk, is completed, active interaction is expected among various institutions and residents in fields such as innovation, culture, environment, and IT within the existing Innovation Park.

Additionally, regarding the long-cherished project by Eunpyeong residents to establish the University of Seoul’s second campus within Innovation Park, efforts have been ongoing since 2012, including the formation of an attraction promotion committee. Last May, a task force team was formed, and in November last year, Eunpyeong-gu Mayor Kim Mi-kyung met with the late Mayor Park Won-soon to discuss the attraction. As a result of these continuous efforts from past to present, the establishment of the University of Seoul’s second campus is now anticipated by 2025.

Furthermore, a complex cultural facility for children is also planned within Innovation Park. This will include experience and education spaces related to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, such as software coding classes for youth and 3D printer utilization education.

In addition, a complex performance hall and festival plaza will be created, making a dream playground for children and youth.

Mayor Kim Mi-kyung stated, “Since my time as a Seoul city council member in 2012, I have emphasized the necessity of attracting the University of Seoul’s second campus to Innovation Park through legislative speeches. If existing facilities are joined by the Seoul Institute and complex cultural spaces for children and youth, the New Innovation Park will establish itself as a new venue for education and experience in Seoul.”