Gyeonggi Research Institute: "Underdeveloped Northern Gyeonggi, Hydrogen Industry Development as an Alternative"

Conceptual map of the Hydrogen Techno Valley development in the northern Gyeonggi region. Source: Gyeonggi Research Institute

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] The Gyeonggi Research Institute published a report on the 8th proposing the development of the hydrogen industry as a new growth engine for the northern Gyeonggi region.

In the report titled "Measures to Foster the Hydrogen Industry in the Northern Gyeonggi Region," the institute highlighted the necessity of ▲ fulfilling the 8th-term local government pledge to establish a Gyeonggi-type hydrogen convergence cluster ▲ revitalizing the underdeveloped regional economy and promoting balanced development ▲ developing two major axes of the hydrogen economy belt in southern Gyeonggi (Ansan, Pyeongtaek, Hwaseong area) and the hydrogen industry in northern Gyeonggi ▲ combining natural environmental resources with eco-friendly hydrogen industry ▲ contributing to achieving carbon neutrality in the metropolitan area.

Previously, the Yoon Seok-yeol administration also proposed regulatory reforms for metropolitan border areas and the establishment of growth promotion zones in border areas during the transition committee phase.

As effective implementation measures, the institute suggested two plans: development by major hubs in northern Gyeonggi cities and counties (Yangju, Uijeongbu, Dongducheon area; Paju area; Yeoncheon, Pocheon area) (Plan 1), and the establishment of a hydrogen techno valley (HTV: Hydrogen Techno Valley), a hydrogen cluster complex (Plan 2).

Candidate sites for HTV include ▲ 41,000㎡ of unused military land in Dohari, Yangju-si ▲ 309,000㎡ Eco Green general industrial complex in Pocheon-si ▲ 593,000㎡ Pappyeong general industrial complex in Paju-si ▲ 927,000㎡ of unused military land around Gungpyeong-ri, Cheongsan-myeon, Yeoncheon-gun.

To achieve this, the institute emphasized the need to establish a hydrogen industry division within the Northern Gyeonggi Provincial Office, ease regulations on military facility protection zones and metropolitan areas as pledged by the new government and the 8th-term Gyeonggi provincial administration, and resolve metropolitan area reverse discrimination during project competitions.

Kang Cheol-gu, senior research fellow at the Gyeonggi Research Institute, explained, "There is no sector as outstanding as the hydrogen industry in discovering new future growth potential for the underdeveloped northern Gyeonggi region."