On July 10, Gyeongju City held a groundbreaking ceremony for the "Oedong Industrial Complex Multipurpose Cultural Center" at the parking lot of Oedong 2nd Industrial Complex in Munsan-ri, Oedong-eup.
The event was attended by approximately 300 people, including Gyeongju Mayor Joo Nakyoung, the vice chairman of the Gyeongju City Council, city and provincial council members, the Oedong Industrial Complex Association, representatives of resident companies, and local residents. The program included a project progress report, commemorative and congratulatory speeches, a groundbreaking performance, and an on-site tour.
The Multipurpose Cultural Center was selected for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's 2022 project to strengthen the competitiveness of aging industrial complexes, with a total project cost of 7.1 billion won (2.7 billion won from the national government, 350 million won from the provincial government, and 4.05 billion won from the city government). The center will have a total floor area of 1,436 square meters (two above-ground floors) and is scheduled for completion in March next year.
The first floor of the center will feature practical welfare facilities such as a shared laundry for work clothes, a book cafe, meeting rooms, and a fitness center. The second floor will house leisure and communication spaces, including a community room and an outdoor terrace.
The center is expected to become more than just a convenience facility, serving as a multipurpose cultural hub that can be used by both workers and local residents.
The city expects this project to improve the quality of life for workers at small and medium-sized enterprises within the Oedong Industrial Complex, as well as to have a positive impact on improving local living conditions and creating jobs.
Oedong Industrial Complex, established in 1994 as Gyeongju's first industrial complex, currently employs about 15,000 workers at approximately 1,200 manufacturing companies, including 12 nearby industrial complexes and 10 individual industrial parks. In addition, the adjacent Booyoung Apartment Complex, which has over 3,200 households, is expected to further amplify the impact of the Multipurpose Cultural Center.
Alongside this, the "Oedong Industrial Complex Beautiful Street Project" will also be actively promoted. This project was selected for a Ministry of Industry competition last year and will receive a total investment of 3 billion won (2 billion won from the national government, 260 million won from the provincial government, and 740 million won from the city government). Construction is set to begin this month, with completion targeted for February next year.
The project aims to improve a 6-kilometer section within the industrial complex by refurbishing roads and sidewalks, creating small parks and walking paths, installing smart streetlights, enhancing nighttime landscape design, and renovating fences. These efforts are expected to improve pedestrian safety and nighttime scenery.
Gyeongju City plans to transform the Oedong Industrial Complex into a "people-centered industrial complex" that combines a pleasant working environment with cultural and welfare facilities through these two projects.
Gyeongju Mayor Joo Nakyoung emphasized, "The competitiveness of an industrial complex is directly linked to the competitiveness of its companies," adding, "The Multipurpose Cultural Center and Beautiful Street Project will be opportunities to create an industrial complex environment that satisfies workers, companies, and local residents alike."
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