SH Corporation Selected as Contractor for Jung-gu Printing Smart Anchor Construction Project... Planned Development of 12 Floors Above Ground and 5 Floors Underground on a 1200㎡ Site at 85-5 Mareunnae-ro, Jung-gu... Equipped with Printing Manufacturing Infrastructure and Collaboration System for One-Stop Planning, Production, and Marketing
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The establishment of the Printing Smart Anchor in Jung-gu, Seoul (Mayor Seo Yang-ho) is gradually taking shape.
On June 24, the district finally selected Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation (hereinafter SH Corporation) as the entrusted developer for the 'Jung-gu Printing Smart Anchor Construction Project,' officially promoting the revival of the printing industry.
Currently, Jung-gu houses about 5,500 printing companies, accounting for approximately 70% of Seoul's printing industry. More than half of these printing companies are concentrated in Chungmuro 3, 4, and 5-ga, Inhyeon-dong 1 and 2-ga, Euljiro 3 and 4-ga, and Ojang-dong.
Accordingly, at the district's request, Seoul designated this area as a 'Printing Specific Development Promotion Zone' in 2017. Building on this, the district established plans in 2018 for the construction and operation of the Printing Smart Anchor to foster the declining printing industry as a future strategic industry. It secured 2 billion KRW in national funds in 2019 and 1 billion KRW in city funds in 2020, and since June this year, it has been accelerating the construction of the Printing Smart Anchor.
The Printing Smart Anchor is a production facility and workspace equipped with ICT-based manufacturing infrastructure and collaboration systems, where planning, production, and marketing of printing work are carried out in a one-stop process.
Here, the efficiency of printing companies' production processes will be maximized, a printing industry database will be built through collaboration among producers, information sharing and network formation will be promoted, and ultimately, domestic and international market development and distribution reinforcement will be targeted.
The anchor will be established on a 1,200㎡ site located in Zone 6-3-4 (around 85-5 Mareunnae-ro, Jung-gu) according to the Sewoon Redevelopment Promotion Plan, through a donation and acceptance process. It will be a building with five underground floors and 12 aboveground floors, housing R&D facilities, prototype production rooms, factory facilities, and parking lots.
To minimize financial burden, the district decided to operate the anchor through a shared property entrusted development method, where a public project operator invests funds upfront on national and public land and recovers project costs through operating rental income over a certain period after development. On June 24, SH Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation was selected as the final entrusted institution.
Once the district council approves the district-owned property management plan and the entrustment contract with SH Corporation is signed, SH Corporation will be responsible for ▲constructing the Smart Anchor and ▲managing the facilities.
The district plans to proceed with basic and detailed designs in September and begin construction around July next year.
Additionally, the district will support various equipment and training suitable for the 4th industrial revolution at the startup hub space 'Eulji Unique Factory,' scheduled to open in September, to cultivate current printing industry workers and young talent, incubate early-stage startups, and nurture next-generation makers, thereby developing the printing industry into a distinctive future industry that creates high added value.
Seo Yang-ho, Mayor of Jung-gu, said, "Jung-gu's printing industry began with the establishment of the Jujaso, responsible for book printing and type manufacturing in the early Joseon Dynasty, and has continued to this day. However, it currently faces difficulties due to outdated environments and weakened competitiveness. But with the establishment of the Printing Smart Anchor, the Chungmuro and Euljiro areas will leap forward as regions leading the future of Korea's printing industry, marking a new turning point for the urban printing industry."
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