Injection of Industrial Complex Environment Improvement Fund Resources into K1 Knowledge Industry Center
Creating a Good Working Environment... An Industrial Complex Sought by Youth
'K1 Knowledge Industry Center' located in Namchon-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon is rapidly changing its surroundings just a month after completion. Built as part of the structural advancement project in the Incheon Namdong National Industrial Complex, interior construction of commercial spaces is currently underway in this building. Facilities aimed at improving the working environment in the industrial complex, such as restaurants, wedding halls, hospitals, indoor golf practice ranges, kids cafes, and performance halls, are the main features. A workplace-type daycare center has already opened and started operating. Not only commercial facilities but also companies moving into the knowledge industry center differ from the traditional image of the industrial complex. Most are in IT fields such as software and research and development (R&D), rather than manufacturing industries. A 'Beautiful Street' is also being created nearby. This place is the site where Namdong National Industrial Complex is making a leap forward as an industrial complex sought after by young people.
The 'Industrial Complex Environment Creation Package Project' promoted by the Korea Industrial Complex Corporation (KICOX) is showing results. A representative example is the 'K1 Knowledge Industry Center' established this year in Namdong National Industrial Complex, the largest domestic industrial complex dedicated to small and medium enterprises. Samsung Industry, which operated an automobile parts factory on this site, took the lead as the project operator for this knowledge industry center, with 16 billion KRW of the total project cost of 79.1 billion KRW invested from the Industrial Complex Environment Improvement Fund.
Creating a Good Working Environment
Built on a 6,886㎡ site with a total floor area of 54,693㎡, and consisting of two basement floors and 18 above-ground floors, this knowledge industry center has quickly become a landmark of Namdong Industrial Complex despite its recent completion. The most notable feature of the exterior is the parking lot. It secured parking spaces for 551 vehicles, which is three times the legally required parking installation standard. The parking lot is designed from the second basement floor to the third through seventh floors. Lee Kang-sik, CEO of Samsung Industry, explained, "We considered that all tenant companies in Namdong Industrial Complex suffer from parking difficulties."
To alleviate childcare burdens for workers in Namdong Industrial Complex, a workplace-type daycare center was also installed within the knowledge industry center. Located on the second floor with about 600㎡, it can accommodate four classes and about 50 children. A community program is also operated to facilitate cultural communication among employees of tenant companies. A space for a table tennis club has already been prepared in the knowledge industry center.
A workplace daycare center has been established in the K1 Knowledge Industry Center to alleviate the childcare burden of workers in the Namdong Industrial Complex. It has the capacity to accommodate about 50 children.
An Industrial Complex Attractive to Youth
This knowledge industry center plans to install and operate a complex cultural center to attract young people to the industrial complex and provide leisure activities for workers. The plan is to create a space that combines welfare-type convenience facilities and profit-oriented cultural spaces to offer cultural benefits to industrial complex workers. The complex cultural center, managed by Incheon City, will be created in the basement of this building with an area of 968㎡. By 2025, it will be developed as an open cultural space for Namdong Industrial Complex workers and citizens. Shared studios, rehearsal rooms, and media creation rooms reflecting young trend cultures such as K-Culture, K-Dance, and K-Music, as well as convenience facilities for workers such as hair salons, coin laundries, and women's lounges will be included. A KICOX official explained, "Through the expansion of convenience facilities for the public, we will not only improve the quality of residential environments but also reconstruct everyday culture and establish a virtuous cycle structure that connects cultural convenience values to the local community."
A 'Beautiful Street' will be created in areas near the knowledge industry center with high foot traffic. The industrial complex will transform from a factory image into a desirable and walkable attraction. The Beautiful Street will be developed from Woninjae Station to Namdong Interpark Station, featuring a promenade with design elements and resting areas. CEO Lee said, "We are also discussing ways for Incheon City, young entrepreneurs, and startups to move in at affordable rents," adding, "We expect this to be a cornerstone for attracting many young people to the industrial complex and transforming it beyond its existing image."
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