Suncheon Emerges as the 'Mecca' of the Green Bio Industry

Two Mid-sized Investments Worth 62 Billion Won Approved, Project Promotion Accelerates
Creating a Full-cycle Ecosystem... Core Growth Engine for Future Industries
Noh Gwan-gyu: "Leap to a Bio-specialized City Focused on Biological Conversion"

Suncheon City in Jeollanam-do is expected to accelerate the core Green Bio projects it is actively promoting, including the 'Jeonnam-type Balanced Development 300 Project' and the 'Green Bio Specialized Knowledge Industry Center Construction' project, as they have passed the central investment review by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

The 'Jeonnam-type Balanced Development 300 Project' is one of Suncheon City's future growth engine projects that will invest a total of 30 billion KRW by 2027 to establish a full-cycle ecosystem for the green bio industry, including ▲bio-specialized standardized production technology ▲distribution of precision environmental control devices ▲the nation's first biologically converted GMP-certified factory ▲support for smart distribution platforms ▲and regional revitalization projects.

Officials from Suncheon City are promoting the 'Suncheon Bio Industry' at the Seungju Residents' Day event held at Seungju Elementary School on the 19th. [Photo by Suncheon City]

The 'Green Bio Specialized Knowledge Industry Center,' planned to be built in Seungju, will be established by 2026 with a project cost of 32 billion KRW. It will provide customized apartment-style factory facilities, including space for 30 companies to move in and GMP equipment for health functional food prototype production.

The city expects the Seungju area to become a K-Green Bio industry hub by using the total project cost of 62 billion KRW as seed money to support the entire industrialization cycle from bio raw materials to materialization, product production, distribution (export), and promotion, as well as R&D for research institutions and resident companies.

Suncheon Bio Healthcare Research Center (Bio Center) and Namhaean Fermented Food Industry Support Center (Fermentation Center), representative public institutions of Suncheon City, have played a key role in creating the green bio industry ecosystem by receiving high scores in last year's management performance evaluation. The Bio Center secured 550 million KRW in sales in the first half of this year by receiving orders for health functional food development research from companies and other institutions, while the Fermentation Center achieved 70 million KRW in sales through fermented food sales and research orders such as kombucha within just over two years since its establishment. In particular, the two foundations are actively participating in research, corporate support, and product development, including ▲development of products using Suncheon Godeulppaegi ▲new product development combining Suncheon plum extract and Ssanghwa extract ▲resource utilization research using Suncheon Bay microorganisms ▲development and distribution of Suncheon-type SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast) ▲and resolving technical difficulties of local companies, aiming to develop a new cash cow for Suncheon.

Additionally, the Green Bio Seungju Campus (Suncheon University Glocal University 30 Project) began operations last month, marking a positive sign as universities, companies, and the local community jointly participate in operating specialized green bio education programs to nurture customized future talents. The city has signed business agreements with Glocal University 30, Suncheon University, Jeonnam Bio Industry Promotion Agency, Lotte Central Research Institute, Huons Co., Ltd., and Dongsung Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and is promoting joint cooperation among government, industry, academia, and research institutes to create a business-friendly environment.

The Seungju Green Bio Forward Base is a key industrial complex leading Suncheon's future new industries, expected to generate comprehensive effects such as ▲700 jobs ▲an increase of 450 residents in Seungju ▲income generation of 15.5 billion KRW ▲and sales of 41.5 billion KRW. The city anticipates that this will revitalize the local economy through increased income for residents and improved living conditions attracting a living population, establishing itself as a leading regional balanced development model representing South Korea. The city also expects that the foundation for financial investment will accelerate the industrialization of the green bio sector.

The city plans to complete related services by the end of this year in preparation for the designation of a promotion district under the 'Act on the Promotion of the Green Bio Industry,' which will be enforced in January next year. It also plans to participate in the designation of the promotion district and the Green Bio Venture Campus contest in the first half of next year. If designated as a green bio industry promotion district, it is expected to create a foundation for attracting companies and generating quality jobs, enabling young talents to become regional settlement elites employed by local industries.

Mayor Noh Kwan-gyu of Suncheon said, “The ‘Jeonnam-type Balanced Development 300 Project’ and the ‘Bio Specialized Knowledge Industry Center Construction’ for the promotion and development of the green bio industry are being pursued simultaneously,” adding, “Through this, the foundation for establishing a biological conversion industrialization platform will be laid, and Suncheon City will leap forward as the specialized center for biological conversion bio in the Namhaean Belt.”