Gyeongnam Province Adds 'Digital and Culture' to Changwon National Industrial Complex... Towards a Youth-Friendly Industrial Complex

Celebrating 50th Anniversary, Announcing Vision for the Next 50 Years

"We will transform Changwon National Industrial Complex into an advanced industrial complex that embraces a complex living space with culture and convenience facilities."

Governor Park Wan-su made this statement on the 1st at the provincial government office meeting room while announcing the 50-year plan for the next 50 years of Changwon National Industrial Complex, which marks its 50th anniversary this year.

Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, is announcing the 50-year future plan for Changwon National Industrial Complex.
[Photo by Lee Se-ryeong]

Governor Park diagnosed, "Changwon National Industrial Complex, Korea's representative machinery industrial complex, is the backbone of Gyeongnam's industry, but its infrastructure has been outdated over the past 50 years, and cultural spaces and convenience facilities are also lacking."

"It has experienced economic downturns due to the global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, and there are difficulties such as the aging average age of workers due to intensified outflow of young people to the metropolitan area and insufficient functions as a research and development hub," he said.

He continued, "For the next 50 years of Changwon National Industrial Complex, it is necessary to advance the complex and improve the environment," adding, "We will create a global digital and cultural industrial complex that generates new added value and is a good workplace for residents including young people."

To this end, Gyeongnam Province has prepared a new 50-year vision for the future of Changwon National Industrial Complex.

The future 50-year vision includes four major strategies: ▲ digital transformation (DX) and transition to advanced technology industries ▲ transformation into an eco-friendly national industrial complex where industry, culture, and youth coexist ▲ fostering industrial manpower to lead advanced industries ▲ improving industrial complex operation efficiency through regulatory reforms.

It also includes 40 detailed tasks such as ▲ establishing a manufacturing digital innovation valley ▲ developing AI autonomous manufacturing technology ▲ developing super-large AI services ▲ creating a digital creative town ▲ establishing reading culture spaces and daycare centers ▲ promoting youth-friendly renewal projects for aging factories ▲ establishing Gyeongnam Institute of Science and Technology ▲ easing restrictions on wastewater discharge facilities within the complex ▲ supporting business transformation of tenant companies.

The province plans to invest a total of 3.8047 trillion KRW over the next 10 years starting this year to carry out these strategic tasks.

It is expected that the 40 projects will generate 4.4417 trillion KRW in production, 1.8994 trillion KRW in added value, and create 44,861 jobs.

The proportion of smart factories is projected to increase from 17% in 2024 to 30% in 2032, and research and development personnel from 3.46% to 10%.

The share of young workers is expected to rise from 10% in 2024 to 20% in 2032, and the number of mid-sized companies is anticipated to expand from 27 to 52.

Past (above) and present views of Changwon National Industrial Complex, Gyeongnam. [Photo provided by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

Governor Park explained, "We will build a digital innovation town concentrated with digital support facilities and attract more than 2,000 digital companies to make it a digital innovation valley comparable to Pangyo Techno Valley."

"To create an industrial complex that young people want to come to, as mentioned at the presidential public discussion on people’s livelihood last February, we will drastically ease regulations related to the industrial complex and expand cultural and convenience facilities," he added.

He also revealed plans to create a digital creative town that combines cultural and leisure facilities such as restaurants, convenience stores, daycare centers, hotels, and corporate support spaces.

He emphasized, "After administrative procedures such as permits in the first half of this year, construction will begin in the first half of next year and be completed in 2027," adding, "We will make it a space where industry and culture harmonize and workplaces and living spaces coexist."

He also mentioned expanding support for corporate investment activities through operating a one-stop corporate support system for attracting companies and expanding investment by tenant companies, as well as improving various regulations.

Governor Park said, "Today, marking the 50th anniversary of Changwon National Industrial Complex, I will work hard to make this occasion a stepping stone to promise a new future for the next 50 years."

Changwon National Industrial Complex was established in April 1974 under the government's heavy and chemical industry promotion policy in the 1970s and has served as a pivotal core base leading the industrial economy of the Gyeongnam region.

The number of tenant companies, which was 44 the year after the complex was established, increased to 2,965 companies by last year, and production, which was only 1.5 billion KRW, rose to 60.0597 trillion KRW.

Centered on the traditional main industry of machinery manufacturing, various companies in machinery, electrical and electronics, automobiles, railroads, construction equipment, defense industry, and nuclear power have gathered, accounting for 56% of the total production, 43% of exports, and 46% of employment in the province's industrial complexes.