Mayor Yook Donghan: "2.2 Trillion Won Economic Impact by 2040... Chuncheon to Become the Heart of Gangwon's Future Industries"
A Stepping Stone for Chuncheon to Emerge as an Advanced Knowledge Industry City Connecting R&D, Commercialization, and Startups
Creating Over 7,600 Jobs by 2040... Building the "Gangwon Version of Pangyo"
With Chuncheon City in Gangwon Province being officially designated as the "Gangwon Research and Development Special Zone," the city has equipped itself with a powerful engine to transform from a simple education and leisure city into a leading "advanced knowledge industry city" representing South Korea.
Yook Donghan, mayor of Chuncheon, held a press conference on the 22nd at the city hall briefing room, announcing the confirmation of the designation of Gangwon Research and Development Special Zone by the Ministry of Science and ICT and presenting Chuncheon's future vision. Provided by Chuncheon City
On the 22nd, Chuncheon Mayor Yook Donghan held a press conference at the city hall briefing room to announce the confirmation of the designation of the Gangwon Research and Development Special Zone by the Ministry of Science and ICT, and presented Chuncheon's future vision.
A research and development special zone is an innovation district designated and supported by the government to foster the development of new technologies and ensure that research outcomes lead to business creation and job opportunities.
The newly designated Gangwon Research and Development Special Zone will, starting next year, promote the commercialization of achievements from universities and government-funded research institutes, accelerate technology commercialization, strengthen research and development capabilities, and build infrastructure, all based on an annual budget of 10 billion won.
The zone will provide step-by-step support for R&D, demonstration, and commercialization, centering on Kangwon National University, Hallym University, Chuncheon Bio Venture Town, and local companies.
In particular, Chuncheon has accumulated experience in operating a small-scale research and development special zone, establishing research-based companies and achieving technology transfer. This gives the city a strong advantage in supporting early-stage startups and technology commercialization. By linking the designation of research-based and advanced technology companies with various special zone support projects, Chuncheon plans to foster corporate growth and expand a high-value-added bio industry ecosystem through AI-based analysis and diagnostics, as well as the demonstration of antibody and natural substance convergence technologies.
If the commercialization of R&D outcomes and startup activities centered on Chuncheon accelerate following the designation of the Gangwon Research and Development Special Zone, the city expects to generate an economic ripple effect of approximately 2.2 trillion won and create 7,680 jobs by 2040. The innovative growth of resident companies in the special zone is anticipated to simultaneously boost sales and create jobs, injecting tangible vitality into the regional economy as a whole.
Furthermore, through the development of the special zone, the city aims to support the creation of a cumulative 22,826 jobs and 9.6588 trillion won in sales by 2030, as well as achieve 4,993 cumulative technology transfers and establish 700 research-based companies. This is expected to play a crucial role in establishing a structure where research achievements accumulated at universities and research institutes lead to corporate growth.
Until now, Gangwon Province's R&D investment scale has been among the lowest in the country compared to the national total.
According to the "2024 Regional R&D Survey" published by the Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning, Gangwon Province accounted for only 0.67% (794.5 billion won) of the national R&D expenditure of about 119.074 trillion won. Its share of the national research and development project budget was also just 1.5% (453.4 billion won) out of a total of 29.9564 trillion won.
The lack of investment in research and development has led to weakened corporate competitiveness and a decrease in jobs.
Yook Donghan, Mayor of Chuncheon, held a press conference on the 22nd at the city hall briefing room to announce the confirmation of the designation of Gangwon Research and Development Special Zone by the Ministry of Science and ICT, and presented Chuncheon's future vision. Provided by Chuncheon City
In response, Chuncheon City set its primary municipal goal as becoming an advanced knowledge industry city. In 2022, the city established a dedicated policy implementation team, and in August of the same year, first proposed the idea for the Gangwon Research and Development Special Zone at a shared vision meeting for mutual cooperation with Gangwon Province, thereby building consensus at the provincial level.
The process was not smooth. The research and development special zone was not initially included during the enactment of the Gangwon Special Act. The city visited Gangwon Province, the central government, and the National Assembly multiple times to explain the necessity, which eventually led to the inclusion of the legal basis for the special zone in the Gangwon Special Act. Chuncheon also succeeded in revising the special requirements for designation, reducing the minimum number of required national or government-funded research institutes from three to two.
Thanks to these efforts, in 2023, Chuncheon City secured 300 million won from the central government for a feasibility study on the research and development special zone by the Ministry of Science and ICT. Separately, the city proactively allocated 200 million won from its own budget to conduct a research study on the Chuncheon Research and Development Special Zone, accelerating preparations for designation.
The foundation for Chuncheon's evaluation as a core hub of the research and development special zone is its long-standing bio industry. Since the 1990s, Chuncheon has strategically fostered the bio industry, and currently, six companies, including Boditech Med and Hugel, are listed on KOSDAQ. Bio company sales have surpassed 1 trillion won annually for four consecutive years.
Kangwon National University and Hallym University train about 2,000 specialized professionals each year through 20 bio-related departments.
Chuncheon accounts for 53.5% of Gangwon Province's national R&D investment, including 53.8% in the bio sector, 55.4% in IT, and 55.8% in nanotechnology. According to the status of research personnel at related institutions in Gangwon, Chuncheon has 664 out of 1,340 total researchers (49.5%). There are also 149 corporate research centers.
According to 2023 university information disclosures, Kangwon National University and Hallym University together accounted for over 60% of the region's university R&D output, with 147 technology transfers and 223 patent registrations, highlighting the vibrancy of R&D in the Chuncheon area.
Preparations for future technology sectors are also underway. Hallym University has established equipment for quantum materials and component R&D, while Kangwon National University operates the Chuncheon GPU Center, expanding the foundation for AI and quantum industries.
Chuncheon already has experience operating a special zone. It has been the only city in Gangwon Province to operate a small-scale research and development special zone, achieving visible results such as relocating 12 research-based companies and completing 113 technology transfers.
This high concentration of R&D and industrial foundation demonstrates that Chuncheon is the core hub best equipped to efficiently support technology commercialization and corporate growth within the Gangwon Research and Development Special Zone.
Chuncheon City plans to organically connect not only the bio industry but also the data, ICT, and content industries to create a new axis for Gangwon's future industries, and to closely cooperate with Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province to become a true advanced knowledge industry city.
Mayor Yook Donghan stated, "The designation of the Gangwon Research and Development Special Zone is a solid stepping stone for Chuncheon to become a hub for future advanced industries," adding, "Based on Chuncheon's diverse R&D capabilities and infrastructure, we will collaborate with other cities and counties such as Wonju and Gangneung to fulfill our role as the central city of the Gangwon Research and Development Special Zone."
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