Jeju, Wanju, and Munmak Launch Initiative to Boost Competitiveness of Aging Industrial Complexes with Focus on Manufacturing AI Transformation and Residential Improvements

Ministry of Industry Selects Candidates for 2027 Outdated Industrial Hub Competitiveness Enhancement Project Zones

The transformation of manufacturing with artificial intelligence (AI), a green transition, and improvements to residential environments are being pursued for the Jeju Advanced Science and Technology Complex, Jeonbuk Wanju General Industrial Complex, and Gangwon Wonju Munmak General Industrial Complex, all of which broke ground over 20 years ago. The government plans to upgrade the outdated infrastructure of these industrial complexes, foster specialized industries in each area, and create advanced complexes that attract young talent.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport held the "Outdated Industrial Hub Complex Competitiveness Enhancement Promotion Committee" on September 22, and selected the Jeju Advanced Science and Technology Complex, Jeonbuk Wanju General Industrial Complex, and Gangwon Wonju Munmak General Industrial Complex as candidates for the "Outdated Industrial Hub Complex Competitiveness Enhancement Project Zone."

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Industrial complexes have been key hubs driving local economic vitality and growth. However, as these complexes have aged, they have faced challenges such as young people avoiding employment there and deteriorating infrastructure, leading to the need to improve their competitiveness. In response, the government has designated industrial complexes that have been in operation for over 20 years as competitiveness enhancement project zones, and through cooperation among eight government ministries including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, as well as local governments, is comprehensively supporting manufacturing AI transformation, the green transition, and improvements to residential environments.

According to the competitiveness enhancement project plans submitted by the three regions selected as candidate sites this year, Jeju will focus on establishing a smart green industrial complex based on distributed energy and clean resources, centered on the national Jeju Advanced Science and Technology Complex, and on implementing projects to enhance the competitiveness of industrial clusters. The aim is to establish an RE100 (100% renewable energy transition) innovation complex and further develop an advanced clean bio-health industry ecosystem.

Wanju will develop itself as a key hub for K-Robot advanced mobility through a major shift to AX (Autonomous Transformation) in manufacturing, centered on AI factory robot validation and manufacturing autonomy in the mobility sector. Munmak aims to lead the future by establishing and advancing smart factories and creating a specialized medical AI semiconductor workforce training center, thereby transforming its aging manufacturing hub through AX-GX (green transformation) and establishing the Wonju Smart Green Industrial Complex.

Going forward, relevant ministries including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will supplement the business plans of the three newly selected candidate regions through expert consulting. The finalized competitiveness enhancement project zones are scheduled to be officially announced in the first quarter of next year. The ministries will also strive to secure budgets for core projects in cooperation with local governments.

Kim Kyuseong, Director-General for Regional Economic Policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, stated, "For the government's strategy for balanced growth to be executed successfully, outdated industrial complexes must be reborn as centers of advanced industries that can realize the five-core, three-special growth engines. Together with related ministries including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, we will do our utmost to enhance the competitiveness of industrial complexes."

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