Gwangju Designated as Opportunity Development Zone... Wings of 'Mobility·AI'

Bitgreen Industrial Complex and Advanced District 3 Covering 360,000 Pyeong... Economic Growth Promotion
Strengthening Investment Ecosystem through Corporate Tax Benefits and Deregulation
Mayor Kang Ki-jung: "We Will Revitalize Local Economy and Jobs"

Gwangju Mayor Kang Ki-jung is announcing four major strategies to enhance the competitiveness of the future car industry at the 'Gwangju Future Car Vision Declaration Ceremony' held on March 29 last year at the VX Studio on the first floor of the Gwangju Real Content Cube (GCC) in Nam-gu.
[Photo by Gwangju City]

Gwangju City has been designated as an ‘Opportunity Development Zone.’ The city plans to develop the Bitgreen National Industrial Complex as a ‘Mobility Zone’ and the Advanced 3 District as an ‘Artificial Intelligence (AI) Zone’ to secure future growth engines.

On the 6th, Gwangju City announced that the Bitgreen National Industrial Complex, covering 686,797㎡ (207,000 pyeong), and the Advanced 3 District of the Gwangju Research and Development (R&D) Zone, covering 523,560㎡ (158,000 pyeong), have been newly designated as ‘Opportunity Development Zones’ by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

The Opportunity Development Zone is a special district established under the ‘Special Act on Local Autonomy and Regional Balanced Development’ to promote region-led economic growth and job creation. The goal is to strengthen regional economic independence through cooperation between innovation clusters centered on local industries and anchor companies.

Opportunity Development Zones provide tax benefits and regulatory relaxations, creating an environment conducive to economic growth through attracting companies and building advanced infrastructure. By developing locally led special zones, the initiative promotes relocation of individuals and companies to the region and aims for balanced development utilizing private capital.

The city plans to develop the Bitgreen National Industrial Complex as a mobility-focused zone and the Advanced 3 District as an AI-focused zone. In particular, it will attract anchor companies such as DH Autoware Co., Ltd. to intensively foster related industries.

The Mobility Zone aims to transform the internal combustion engine-centered automotive industry ecosystem into future mobility and nurture future car parts industries such as electronic components and secondary batteries. The AI Zone will advance core infrastructure for the commercialization of artificial intelligence technology and demonstrate and implement AI convergence services. By leading innovation in future car and AI industries and strengthening global competitiveness, the zones aim to create high-quality jobs and revitalize the regional economy. The city also plans to focus on additional designations of Opportunity Development Zones to enhance industrial competitiveness.

On the same day, Gwangju City signed an ‘Opportunity Development Zone Investment Agreement’ with anchor companies including DH Autoware Co., Ltd. at the ‘2024 Korea Local Era Expo’ held at Songam Sports Town in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province. According to the agreement, companies will promote investment and technology development within the zones, while the city will focus on developing zone infrastructure.

Mayor Kang Gi-jung stated, “With the designation of the Opportunity Development Zone, companies coming to the region will receive benefits such as tax support and regulatory relaxation,” adding, “We will actively discover investment companies in AI and mobility industries to invigorate the regional economy.”

Meanwhile, from the 6th to the 8th, Gwangju City will operate the Gwangju Pavilion at the Local Era Expo under the theme ‘Gwangju, a Future City of Advanced Technology and Culture.’ It will showcase Gwangju Global Motors (GGM)’s ‘Casper Electric Vehicle (EV)’ and ‘Nunchi AI,’ which recommends music content by analyzing emotional data in real time.

Additionally, the city has prepared various experiential spaces to promote major industrial policies, including a promotional zone highlighting the Gwangju spirit in celebration of writer Han Kang’s Nobel Prize in Literature, and a ‘Kia × Omena Photo Zone’ commemorating the Korean Series championship.