Gyeonggi-do Cultural Heritage Committee Review Passed
Securing a Foundation for Industrial Expansion... Administrative Efforts Bear Fruit
Height Restrictions Relaxed in Central Area... Symbolic Regulatory Improvement
'Yonghyeon Inno City Valley' Leaps Forward as a High-Tech Industry Hub
Uijeongbu City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Kim Donggeun) announced on July 30 that the proposal to revise the standards for permitting construction activities within the historical and cultural preservation area of the Jeong Munbu General's Tomb, which the city submitted, was finally approved as originally proposed at the Gyeonggi-do Cultural Heritage Committee meeting held in July 2025.
This decision is regarded as the result of Uijeongbu City's continuous administrative efforts and policy persuasion to ease regulations on the Yonghyeon Industrial Complex.
This revision follows the amendment of the Gyeonggi-do Cultural Heritage Protection Ordinance in July 2024, which abolished the mandatory prior review requirement for construction activities exceeding 32 meters within a 200-300 meter radius of the Jeong Munbu General's Tomb, a provincially designated cultural property. In particular, this area requires a balance between cultural heritage preservation and development, making the design of a precise system and the securing of procedural legitimacy key tasks.
Of particular note in this review is the inclusion of additional height restriction relaxations for part of the central area within the two zones adjacent to the cultural heritage site. This area is the core of the Yonghyeon Industrial Complex, where knowledge industry centers, business support facilities, and worker convenience facilities are concentrated. The existing height restrictions had imposed significant limitations on company occupancy and equipment installation.
The relaxation of height restrictions is interpreted as a symbolic institutional improvement, not only in terms of permitting construction, but also in enhancing the functional completeness of the industrial complex and improving space utilization efficiency for resident companies. It is also expected to serve as a catalyst for positive change throughout the entire industrial complex.
For this review proposal, Uijeongbu City conducted multiple rounds of consultations with Gyeonggi Province, on-site inspections, collection of resident company opinions, and analysis of the current state of cultural heritage, conducting a multi-faceted review and presenting a rational height restriction adjustment plan tailored to the characteristics of the location. The key to this 'approval as originally proposed' lies in finding common ground between rational urban planning and cultural heritage preservation.
Yonghyeon Industrial Complex is the only industrial site in Uijeongbu City and serves as a hub for local manufacturing and high-tech industries. However, restrictions due to existing cultural heritage regulations have continued to make it difficult to attract companies. With the relaxation of height restrictions, it is expected that site utilization will be facilitated, improving conditions for resident companies and accelerating the expansion of infrastructure within the industrial complex.
Mayor Kim Donggeun welcomed the decision, stating, "The passage of this review is expected to serve as a turning point where cultural heritage and industry can coexist in harmony," and added, "We will continue to preserve the value of our cultural heritage while actively supporting the growth of companies and high-tech industries and achieving sustainable urban growth."
Meanwhile, Uijeongbu City has selected a new brand name, 'Yonghyeon Inno City Valley,' to enhance the image and reorganize the functions of the industrial complex, and is pursuing an industrial diversification strategy by attracting high-tech industries such as data centers and bio companies.
As these industrial complex advancement strategies bear fruit, the transition to a high value-added industrial hub is becoming visible, with recent developments such as the data center structural advancement project, attracting R&D-focused companies to the complex, and selection as the site for the Gyeonggi AI Innovation Cluster project.
Uijeongbu City plans to continue operating the industrial complex under the principle of a 'heritage-embracing industrial complex,' building a model of coexistence between cultural heritage and high-tech industries by simultaneously preserving the landscape and rationalizing regulations.
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