Ministry of Science and ICT Designates Gangwon R&D District
Focused Development of Chuncheon, Wonju, and Gangneung as Three Major Hubs
"Attracting 500 Companies by 2030"
Gangwon R&D District Expected to Generate 4.2 Trillion Won in Economic Impact
Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province has been officially recognized as a future advanced industry innovation hub, becoming the sixth "Metropolitan Research and Development District" in the nation. This is the first new designation in ten years since the Jeonbuk District was designated in 2015.
The Ministry of Science and ICT (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Baek Kyunghoon) and Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Governor Kim Jintae) announced on the 22nd that Gangwon Province has been newly designated as the sixth research and development district. This achievement was made possible as Gangwon Province, which had previously failed to meet the strict requirements due to a lack of research institutions, was able to relax the regulatory requirements (from three to two national or government-funded research institutes) through special provisions in the "Gangwon Special Act."
This special district will be operated as a "collaborative model" connecting Chuncheon, Wonju, and Gangneung. Covering a total area of 11.7 square kilometers, Chuncheon will focus on bio-new materials, Wonju on digital healthcare, and Gangneung on the semiconductor (sensor) materials and components industry, with each city specializing in and fostering these respective fields.
Until now, the province could not even apply for research and development district designation because it did not meet the requirements. However, with the relaxation of these requirements through the special provisions of the Gangwon Special Act, it became possible to apply.
However, since each individual city-Chuncheon, Wonju, and Gangneung-still faced limitations in meeting the requirements on their own, the province proposed a collaborative research and development district model that would consolidate the research and industrial capabilities of the three major cities through consultations with the central government. As a result, this new designation was achieved.
This designation was finalized after the province’s application (January 2025) and a comprehensive review of 34 requirements by the "Gangwon District Designation Review Task Force," which held 15 meetings over approximately nine months with the participation of 11 experts.
Within the Gangwon Research and Development District, a total of 182 research institutions-including government-funded research institutes, universities, local government and corporate research centers-are clustered together, boasting outstanding capabilities in advanced fields such as bio, healthcare, materials, and components.
With this research and development district designation, it is expected that the founding of advanced technology companies and research-based enterprises in Gangwon Province will be revitalized, technology transfer and commercialization will be accelerated, and this will greatly contribute to enhancing the competitiveness of local industries and revitalizing the regional economy.
The province announced that, through this special district designation, it aims to attract more than 500 companies by 2030, achieve an increase in sales of 4.2 trillion won, and create 7,800 new jobs as tangible economic outcomes.
Furthermore, the province plans to further expand the role and scope of the district by discovering and fostering additional future mobility sectors that reflect the characteristics of Gangwon Province, such as disaster response drones.
The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to support the rapid growth of the new district by providing financial support for new technology startups, technology transfer, R&DB, and fund investments, along with institutional support such as tax benefits and regulatory sandbox exemptions.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Baek Kyunghoon stated, "The newly designated Gangwon Research and Development District, the first in ten years, will become an important innovation hub for achieving balanced regional development through the '5 Regions, 3 Special Zones' strategy. We will actively support Gangwon District so that it can establish itself as a center of advanced industrial innovation and a key pillar of regional economic growth."
Kim Jintae, Governor of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, said, "What was once impossible, as we could not even attempt it due to strict requirements, has become possible through the special provisions of the Gangwon Special Act. We expect future industries to see significant growth across the entire province, centered on Chuncheon, Wonju, and Gangneung."
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