The First Step Toward ‘Changwon National Industrial Complex 2.0’ Responsible for the Next 50 Years

Creation of a 1.03 Million Pyeong Defense and Nuclear Power Industry Specialized Complex

The Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam, under the 8th elected administration, has successfully had its key project, ‘Changwon National Industrial Complex 2.0,’ selected as a new national industrial complex by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

On the 15th, the government announced at the 14th Emergency Economic and Livelihood Meeting that it will newly establish 14 national advanced industrial complexes across the provinces, covering a total area of over 33 million square meters, or more than 10 million pyeong.

Changwon National Industrial Complex 2.0 Development Project Plan. [Provided by Changwon Special City Hall, Gyeongnam]

According to the city, the newly designated Changwon National Industrial Complex 2.0 will be developed over approximately 1.03 million pyeong in the Buk-myeon area of Uichang-gu and Dong-eup.

The land is divided into 510,000 pyeong for industrial facilities, 460,000 pyeong for public facilities, and 60,000 pyeong for support facilities.

It will be divided into three zones: ▲a ‘Research Dedicated Zone’ for corporate-affiliated research institutes, research organizations, and research centers; ▲a ‘Production Dedicated Zone’ focusing on heavy machinery and lightweight modular electric and electronic industries; and ▲a ‘Research-Production Convergence Zone’ housing support organizations, testing and certification centers, and companies producing converged products.

The new national industrial complex specializing in defense and nuclear power industries is expected to receive final approval in 2027 after selecting project operators, lifting development restrictions, and land compensation processes.

After final approval, a total project cost of approximately 1.4125 trillion KRW will be invested by 2030, welcoming 184 companies including leading defense and nuclear power enterprises.

The city plans to hold nationwide briefing sessions to attract related companies not only within Changwon but also from nearby regions such as Busan and the metropolitan area.

Hong Nampyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City, Gyeongnam, is announcing the plan for the creation of Changwon National Industrial Complex 2.0.
[Photo by Lee Seryeong]

Mayor Hong Nampyo stated in a briefing, “Unlike other local governments that have been steadily preparing for years, we diagnosed the need for additional national industrial complexes only after the 8th elected administration began,” adding, “Despite the disadvantageous conditions of entering the competition late, our city demonstrated the resilience to secure a place on the list of new national industrial complexes.”

Mayor Hong, who personally participated in the entire process from submitting the industrial complex proposal to presentations and on-site inspections, said, “Because we were late, we pursued the attraction with fierce and desperate determination.”

He added, “Alongside the development of the Changwon National Industrial Complex site, we will also focus on building the core infrastructure to be housed there.”

The city plans to collaborate with the Korea Institute of Materials Science to establish large-scale research facilities, such as state-of-the-art advanced composite beam irradiation facilities, for joint use by tenant companies.

In cooperation with local universities, the city will also nurture customized talent for industrial complex tenant companies linked to the Ministry of Education’s Glocal University Development Project.

To attract R&D-focused public institutions such as the Defense Parts Research Institute, the city will join forces with Gyeongnam Province and will also initiate a major renovation plan for the existing Changwon National Industrial Complex, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year.

Originally, the city proposed a 3 million pyeong scale for the National Industrial Complex 2.0 plan, including Buk-myeon, Daesan-myeon, and Changwon National University, but Changwon National University, Daesan-myeon, and parts of Buk-myeon were excluded.

Mayor Hong said, “For areas not included in this national industrial complex development, we plan to prepare measures such as lifting development restrictions and land utilization plans.”

He continued, “Changwon National Industrial Complex 2.0 has only taken its first step,” and said, “We will tirelessly move forward so that every step we take will lead to a path of innovative growth that firmly supports Changwon’s next 50 years.”