Busan Gijang-gun Forms 'Radiation Medical and Science Convergence Cluster Council'

Busan's Gijang-gun has formed the "Radiation Medical and Science Convergence Cluster Council," which includes administrative agencies, research institutions, academia, and the medical community, to revitalize the radiation medical and science cluster.

The council consists of six organizations: Busan City, Gijang-gun, Pukyong National University, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, and the Southeast Regional Radiation Medical Center. It will establish a continuous cooperation system to activate the radiation medical and science convergence cluster centered around the Southeast Regional Radiation Medical and Science General Industrial Complex (Southeast Regional Industrial Complex).

Each organization will share key issues and performance information through the council's operations and work with experts from each institution to identify tasks and cooperation plans to revitalize the cluster. They also plan to strengthen promotional activities such as policy forums and community briefings.

On the 7th, a forum was held to promote the "Activation of the Radiation Medical and Science Convergence Cluster," a pledge of the 20th presidential administration, and the six related organizations signed a multilateral cooperation agreement.

Jung Jong-bok, the mayor of Gijang-gun, said, "It is no exaggeration to say that the creation of the radiation medical and science convergence cluster determines the future of Gijang." He added, "We will focus administrative efforts on securing future growth engines for Gijang by pooling the capabilities of local governments, universities, hospitals, and government-funded research institutes centered on the Southeast Regional Industrial Complex."

Aerial view of the Southeast Radiation Medical Science Industrial Complex.

The Southeast Regional Industrial Complex is an industrial complex being developed by Gijang-gun in Jangan-eup, covering approximately 450,000 pyeong, with a total project cost of 434.3 billion KRW.

Within the complex, the Southeast Regional Radiation Medical Center, which opened in 2010, a medical heavy ion accelerator, and a new export-type research reactor are under construction, targeting completion in 2026 and 2027 respectively. To date, about 1.8951 trillion KRW has been invested in national projects and the development of the industrial complex.