Seongsoo Jeon, Seocho District Mayor: "Focus All Efforts on Yangjae AI Special Zone for the First 5 Years"

[Interview] Jeon Seong-su, Mayor of Seocho-gu
AI Industry Is the Future Competitive Edge... Yangjae AI Special Zone at the Center
"The First Five Years Decide the Success or Failure of a Special Zone"
The Only Place in Gangnam Where Agglomeration Development Is Possible

"There are 175 special zones nationwide, but there are not many successful special zones or ones that we remember. The first five years are really crucial to becoming a successful special zone. Therefore, Seocho-gu will focus all its capabilities on the initial five years."

On the 11th, Jeon Seong-su, the mayor of Seocho-gu, Seoul, said, "The artificial intelligence (AI) industry will become South Korea's future competitive edge, and the Yangjae AI Special Zone, located between Teheran-ro and Pangyo, will be at the center of it."

On the 11th, in an interview, Jeon Seong-su, the mayor of Seocho District, talked about the future of the Yangjae AI Special Zone and the development of Seocho District. Provided by Seocho District.

The Yangjae AI Future Convergence Innovation Special Zone (Yangjae AI Special Zone, covering 400,000㎡ in Yangjae and Umyeon-dong), designated last November, and its surroundings are almost the only remaining land in Gangnam that can be developed into a business and mixed-use district. This area houses research centers of major corporations such as Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor, LG Electronics, and KT, along with about 500 AI and information and communication technology (ICT) related companies. Seocho-gu plans to attract 1,000 startups within the special zone.

With large-scale development projects such as the site of The-K Hotel and the urban high-tech logistics complex underway within the special zone, additional land and facilities will be secured through substantial public contributions, and the development synergy effect will accelerate agglomeration. Last year, Seoul City opened the 'Seoul AI Hub,' a control tower for AI industry support facilities in this area, and the 'National AI Research Hub' established there will serve as a focal point for AI research. Adjacent to the urban high-tech logistics complex, on the site of the Yanggok Wholesale Market, the 'Seoul AI Tech City' with a total floor area of 270,000㎡ will also be developed.

Mayor Jeon said, "The recent announcement by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon to create an AI Tech City within the special zone that is ten times larger than the current AI Hub and to actively foster AI talent is a great boost for Seocho-gu," adding, "Seocho-gu will become a one-team partner with Seoul City and the central government to concentrate all efforts." While the designation of the special zone was made by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and large-scale infrastructure construction involves significant authority and roles of Seoul City and the central government, Seocho-gu intends to push forward the maximum possible initiatives that a basic local government can undertake in parallel and simultaneously with speed.

Mayor Jeon stated, "If the ordinance for promoting AI-specialized projects is enacted in the first half of the year, a regulatory exemption system will be established," and added, "We will also complete the revision of the ordinance for the establishment and operation of the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Fund within the first half to provide a legal basis for utilizing funds from startup investments." Six regulatory exemptions apply to the special zone. The patent law exemption, which allows priority examination over other applications to shorten the time for technology transfer and industrialization, and the exemption easing visa issuance and extending the stay period for outstanding overseas personnel engaged in specialized projects, are particularly effective.

Additionally, Seocho-gu plans to start raising a fund of 30 billion KRW and invest in startups with a total fund exceeding 110 billion KRW over the next five years, while actively providing administrative support. The district also revealed plans to lease the office building (9 floors) of the Gangnam Data Center, scheduled for completion in June this year, as the Yangjae AI Special Zone Excellent Company Center (tentative name), aiming to attract 42 excellent AI startups with 20 to 40 employees each. The 'Seocho AI College' project, which has been running for four years in collaboration with KAIST to train Seocho-gu youth as AI experts, and a partnership with Soongsil University to support master's and doctoral degree programs in AI Techno-Convergence, are also underway.

A circular shuttle bus will also be introduced within the Yangjae AI Special Zone. In the mid to long term, plans include adding new stations on the Shinbundang Line and connecting the Wirye-Gwacheon Line to the special zone. Mayor Jeon said, "To solve public transportation issues, we will introduce shuttle buses connecting major points within the special zone by next year, and we are also discussing plans for additional stations on the Shinbundang Line with large corporations such as Harim in relation to the urban high-tech logistics complex development project."

The undergrounding of the Gyeongbu Expressway, the release of 2.21 million㎡ of greenbelt in Wonji-dong and Umyeon-dong areas of Seocho-gu announced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Seoul City at the end of last year, and the construction of 20,000 apartment units are also plans that will create significant synergy effects in this area.

Mayor Jeon expressed expectations, saying, "The promotion plan for the Yangjae ICT Specific Development Promotion District across Gangnam-daero on the east side of the special zone will also generate synergy with the Yangjae AI Special Zone." Once the promotion district designation is completed, benefits such as relaxed floor area ratio and height restrictions, and local tax reductions for related industries will follow. Seocho-gu is striving to have the district designated by Seoul City within this year.

Mayor Jeon said, "By integrating all these elements, we will develop Seocho into a compact city where work, residence, and leisure (job, housing, and convenience) converge," adding, "The development of the AI special zone will lead not only to economic growth and improved quality of life for residents but also to sustainable development for future generations."

Location map of Yangjae AI Future Convergence Innovation District.