Gwangju City Holds 'Advanced Regenerative Medicine Regulatory Free Zone Forum'

Gathering Capabilities of National Assembly, Medical, Corporate, and Institutional Sectors
Sharing Vision, Action Plans, and Industry Trends

Gwangju City held the "Advanced Regenerative Medicine Regulatory Free Zone Forum" on the 22nd at the Biomedical Research Support Center of Chonnam National University Hospital, with about 100 attendees including local members of the National Assembly, hospital officials, and company representatives. Photo by Gwangju City

On the 22nd, Gwangju City held a forum at the Biomedical Research Support Center of Chonnam National University Hospital in preparation for the designation of the 'Gwangju Advanced Regenerative Medicine Regulatory Free Zone' scheduled for April next year.

The forum was organized to share Gwangju City's vision and practical measures for the designation of the advanced regenerative medicine regulatory free zone and to seek solutions to realistic problems.

About 100 people attended the forum, including Kim Yong-seung, Director of the Artificial Intelligence Industry Office of Gwangju City; National Assembly members Jeong Jin-wook and Jeon Jin-sook; Jeong-sin, Director of Chonnam National University Hospital; Yoon Taek-rim, Director of the Convergence Medical Device Support Center at Chonnam National University Hospital; Kim Young-jip, President of Gwangju Technopark; Park So-ra, President of the Regenerative Medicine Promotion Foundation; Cho Woo-joo, Head of the Gwangju Regional Headquarters of the Small and Medium Business Corporation; and representatives from companies participating in the regulatory free zone project.

At the forum, Ki Seung-jung, Director of the Biomedical Research Institute at Chonnam National University Hospital, introduced the 'Gwangju Advanced Regenerative Medicine Regulatory Free Zone Project.' Following this, Director Yoon Taek-rim presented on 'Trends in Advanced Regenerative Medicine Research and Development,' President Park So-ra spoke on 'Measures to Revitalize Advanced Regenerative Medicine in Korea,' and Kim Jang-ho, CEO of Nanobiosystem Co., Ltd., gave a presentation on 'Current Status of Research and Development in Advanced Regenerative Medicine Tissue Engineering and Convergent Therapy.'

The panel discussion included Director Ki Seung-jung, President Park So-ra, CEO Kim Jang-ho, CEO Lee Je-jung of Bacell Bio Co., Ltd., and Director Ryu Kang of the Chonnam Biomedical Research Center. They engaged in an in-depth discussion on the necessity of promoting the Gwangju regulatory free zone project, anticipated challenges and solutions, and cooperation plans with other regulatory free zones.

In September, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups selected the 'Advanced Regenerative Medicine Project for the Advancement of the Biomedical Industry' as a candidate for the '10th Regulatory Free Zone.' Gwangju City is currently planning a detailed regulatory free zone plan to further specify the project, and after the Ministry's review process, the final designation is expected around April next year.

The advanced regenerative medicine regulatory free zone covers the entire Gwangju area (including Dong-gu university hospital area, Seo-gu hospital-dense area, Nam-gu Bitgoeul Chonnam National University Hospital, and Buk-gu Advanced Science Industrial Complex), spanning approximately 900,000 pyeong. Once finally designated as a regulatory free zone, it will be subject to regulatory exemptions to conduct advanced regenerative medicine demonstrations.

Kim Yong-seung, Director of the Artificial Intelligence Industry Office, stated, “Advanced regenerative medicine will be a core industry, serving as a new regional growth engine by expanding the industrial ecosystem to enhance corporate competitiveness, revitalizing the local economy through patient attraction, and expanding patient treatment rights. Gwangju City will unite efforts with the National Assembly, medical community, and industry to make every effort to achieve final designation as a regulatory free zone.”