Hanam City Embarks on Major Shift to a “City of Business and Jobs” with K-Culture and AI Innovation Cluster

Hanam City to Establish 3 Trillion Won AI Innovation Cluster

Moving Beyond 'Commuter Town' to Economic Hub

Pursuing Status as the Metropolitan Area’s Leading Business City with K-Culture and the National Garden

Mayor Lee Hyun-jae: "We Will Build the Metropolitan Area’s Top Economic City Filled with Companies and Jobs"

Gyeonggi Province’s Hanam City, which has long enjoyed a reputation as a “city people want to live in,” is accelerating its transition into an economic hub driven by culture, tourism, and high-tech industries. The city aims to become the top business and job destination in the metropolitan area through the establishment of a K-culture complex, a National Garden, and the development of an AI Innovation Cluster valued at 3 trillion won.

Panoramic view of Hanam City Hall. Provided by Hanam City

Hanam City (Mayor Lee Hyun-jae) announced on the 17th that it will begin full-scale implementation of its future growth strategy, combining the culture·tourism industry with advanced sectors. The core of the plan is to foster the tourism and cultural content industries by integrating the K-culture complex with the National Garden, while simultaneously attracting businesses and generating quality jobs by setting up an AI Innovation Cluster at Gyosan New Town.

This strategy is designed to improve an urban structure with a weak industrial base.

According to the recently published “Study on Balanced Regional Development in Gyeonggi-do,” Hanam City was rated as grade A (very superior) for fiscal independence, but received a grade C for business establishments and employment, and a grade D for per capita gross regional domestic product (GRDP), classifying it as a “balanced city” in need of industrial competitiveness reinforcement.

In fact, Hanam City’s per capita GRDP in 2023 was only about one-sixth that of Seoul’s Gangnam District. Despite boasting some of the best transportation networks in the capital area, the city’s weak industrial foundation has meant it has remained largely characterized as a commuter town for those working in Seoul.

There are also stark contrasts in local corporate income tax collections, a key measure of business activity. In 2025, Hanam's local corporate income tax is projected to reach 33 billion won—only about one-twelfth of Hwaseong City’s 407.6 billion won or one-ninth of Icheon City’s 303.2 billion won, home to SK hynix. Hanam City explained that these figures highlight the urgent need to attract large corporations and high value-added industries capable of driving the local economy.

The city has also actively pursued business attraction, creating a dedicated investment promotion office. As a result, it has attracted 13 companies and institutions, including Igloo Corporation, Seongwon Adpia, and Yonsei Hanam Hospital, leading to approximately 1 trillion won in investments and the creation of over 2,500 jobs.

Looking ahead, Hanam plans to establish a new growth hub by linking the K-culture complex with the National Garden, creating a space where culture, tourism, and industry converge. The introduction of a dedicated K-POP concert venue, film and video production facilities, and a National Garden along the Han River waterfront is expected to not only attract both domestic and international tourists but also significantly boost the recruitment of cultural content companies.

Additionally, about 3 trillion won will be invested in the Gyosan District to establish an AI Innovation Cluster. By clustering artificial intelligence–related companies, universities, and research institutes, the city intends to build a cutting-edge industrial ecosystem and develop a dual engine—along with K-culture—to drive Hanam’s economic growth.

Mayor Lee Hyun-jae emphasized, “Urban competitiveness can no longer be assessed based solely on population growth. We will transform Hanam from a commuter town built around transportation networks into an economic city where businesses, industries, and jobs grow hand in hand.”

He added, “We will build the metropolitan area’s top city for companies and jobs—a place where citizens enjoy employment, culture, and leisure all within their own community.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.