Suncheon Designated as Opportunity Development Zone, Fostering K-Content Forward Base

The Nation's Only Designated Cultural Content Field

Setting the First Button for the Future Local Era

Suncheon City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Noh Gwan-gyu) announced on the 20th that it has been finally designated as the 1st Opportunity Development Zone by the Presidential Committee on Local Era.

The Suncheon special zone is the only region in the cultural content field among the eight city and provincial special zones designated this time.

Scenery of Suncheonman National Garden [Photo by Suncheon City]

Unlike other cities and counties that applied with a standardized special zone model focused on manufacturing and industrial complexes, Suncheon City benchmarked domestic and international cases and continuously communicated with leading companies from the early stages of the special zone plan.

As a result, it is highly significant that the government recognized the cultural content industry as a new economic model.

This special zone designation initially included the Suncheonman International Wetland Center, a national garden with confirmed resident companies, and the old downtown area is expected to be additionally designated after re-examination following confirmation of resident companies.

Suncheon City expects that this Opportunity Development Zone designation will promote the relocation and investment of companies to the region and increase high-quality jobs preferred by young people.

Mayor Noh Gwan-gyu of Suncheon said, “We have gained confidence that the cultural content industry Suncheon is preparing can serve as a new growth hub in the local era,” adding, “We will revitalize the local economy through cultural content and foster Suncheon as a K-content forward base by hosting world-class animation and webtoon-related festivals.”

Meanwhile, the Opportunity Development Zone is a growth model that provides companies relocating to local areas with exceptional incentives such as tax support, regulatory exemptions, and financial support, and induces companies to reinvest in the region. It is deliberated and resolved by the Presidential Committee on Local Era, a presidential organization, and designated by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s decision and announcement.