Buan-gun Urges "Saemangeum Agricultural and Life Science Zone Section 7 to Be Designated as 'Industrial Land'"

Land Reclamation of 18㎢ Completed, Enabling National Industrial Complex Development
"An Alternative to Industrial Land Shortage and a Land of Opportunity"

On the 20th, Buan County and the County Council in Jeonbuk urged that during the reestablishment of the Saemangeum basic plan, Agricultural Life Zone 7 be designated as industrial land to create an eco-friendly national industrial complex.

Kwon Ik-hyun, the head of Buan County, along with Park Byeong-rae, chairman of the Buan County Council, council members, and Jeonbuk Provincial Assembly members Kim Jeong-gi and Kim Seul-ji, held a press conference at the Jeonbuk Provincial Assembly on the same day, stating, "Saemangeum Agricultural Life Zone 7 is the optimal solution and land of opportunity to resolve the shortage of industrial land," and added, "If designated as industrial land, a national industrial complex can be established."

Buan County Governor Kwon Ik-hyun holds a press conference on the 20th at the Jeonbuk Provincial Council, urging the designation of Industrial Land for Section 7 of Saemangeum Agricultural and Life Science Land. Provided by Buan County

They emphasized, "Zone 7 has already completed 18㎢ of reclamation, allowing it to be immediately provided as industrial land to companies and others," and "It has locational advantages for industrial land designation due to excellent transportation accessibility, including connection to the nearby offshore wind power complex for renewable energy supply and proximity to the North-South road."

They also explained, "Buan's industrial agglomeration is lower than neighboring local governments, so industrial land is essential even from the perspective of regional balanced development," and noted that excluding solar power sites in the Saemangeum basic plan, the actual usable industrial land is 19㎢, which is 25㎢ less than total demand.

Regarding the approximately 2-meter additional soil covering required when changing agricultural land to industrial land, County Head Kwon said, "To move toward a better region, that level of effort must be borne."

Meanwhile, Kwon stated, "As a legal basis for land use change, the recent amendments to the Smart Agriculture Act, Industrial Cluster Act, and Enforcement Decree of the Industrial Location Act have made it possible for smart farms to enter industrial complexes," adding, "This establishes grounds for creating a convergence industry where industry and agriculture coexist and innovate. Developing the Saemangeum area into an environmentally friendly advanced complex land aligns with the major goals of the Saemangeum project, which are national land balanced development and strengthening national competitiveness."