Goyang-si, 89.0% of Citizens Say "Economic Free Zone Attraction is Necessary"

"Strong Support for Attracting Economic Free Zones
92.4% of Citizens Agree 'Economic Free Zones Will Benefit Local Economy'"

Goyang Special City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Dong-hwan) announced on the 7th that 89.0% of citizens responded that attracting an economic free zone is 'necessary' in a public opinion survey conducted regarding the designation of an economic free zone, which is being promoted to grow into a global economic city. The survey was conducted from December 12 to 16 with 1,000 Goyang citizens.

Regarding the promotion of the economic free zone designation, 66.2% were aware of it, and among the respondents, 92.4% answered that the economic free zone would help the local economy. When asked how much they expect the designation of the economic free zone, 85.0% replied that they 'look forward to it,' showing a very high level of anticipation.

The main projects to be attracted after the designation of the economic free zone were surveyed in the order of bio-precision medicine (29.9%), K-Culture (27.6%), smart mobility such as urban air mobility (21.6%), and MICE industries such as exhibition conventions (15.4%).

Regarding the future development direction of Goyang Special City, respondents answered in the order of a young and future-oriented complex city such as a smart city and K-Culture tourism (29.7%), a key city in northern Gyeonggi through linkage with surrounding cities (28.0%), an industrial city where various advanced industries are converged and complexed (24.5%), and a city equipped with internationally advanced industries (12.7%).

The advantages of Goyang Special City were highly rated as 'geographical proximity to the metropolitan area' (44.3%) and 'good living conditions' (33.8%), while the reasons why Goyang's industry has not developed significantly were identified as lack of linkage with surrounding areas and industries (26.7%), originally developed as a bedroom town (25.9%), and various regulations such as the metropolitan area overconcentration control zone (16.2%).

Mayor Lee Dong-hwan of Goyang Special City said, "As many citizens sympathize with the designation of the economic free zone, which is being promoted for the sustainable growth of the city, we will focus all administrative power until the final designation of the economic free zone to awaken Goyang's potential."

Meanwhile, Goyang Special City was designated as the first candidate site for an economic free zone in northern Gyeonggi in 2022, and this year is accelerating the final application for designation by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

This survey was conducted by HanGil Research, a professional public opinion research agency, targeting 1,000 Goyang citizens through landline phones (30%) and mobile web using the three major telecommunications companies' mobile phones (70%), with a sampling error of ±3.1% at a 95% confidence level.