– Gyeonggi province hosted a presentation conference, presided by Gyeonggi Provincial Governor, Sohn Hak-kyu, on the “Gwanggyo Techno Valley” New Town Development Plan with mayors of Suwon and Yongin cities, related Gyeonggi province officials, CEO of Gyeonggi Innovation Corporation, which is the project enforcing institution, along with experts from academia and various fields in the provincial office on March 21. 

– Gyeonggi province officials announced that the promotion of the plan will be accelerated in full swing in the coming years through a number of similar events in which participants can share their in-depth opinions on the newly introduced functions. Much effort will be put into determining the direction of the New Town Development based on advices from affiliated experts on the major pending issues such as an administrative town and a cutting-edge R&D complex development, plans for recreational parks (Wonchon Reservoir and Shindae Reservoir), and a land use scheme direction in connection with broad area road and subway line of “Gwanggyo Techno Valley.” Discussions and official reports were made on the housing development status in the urban framework of functional array, land use, broad area traffic improvement measures, park greenery system, and central area design (proposal). 

– The main direction of the development plan was to enhance the new town’s position as a central city in the southern Seoul Metropolitan Area while strengthening international competitiveness of Gyeonggi province. The summarized details are as follows: 

First, the development would implement a function as a central city in the megalopolis with population of 20 million. 
This includes providing premier urban infrastructure facilities through development of an administrative and judicial town, where one-stop administrative service support for local and international businesses will be made available, establishment of business hub, perfection of startup supporting facilities, PR for and investment on firms, and establishment of a ubiquitous* system. 
* Ubiquitous: The world where users can connect to computers and objects regardless of time and place 

Secondly, the development would focus on establishing the foundation for cutting-edge technological innovation. 
This contains R&D cluster formation focused on core technologies with a next-generation fusion technology institute featuring optimal research environment, securing of urban infrastructure facilities for industry/academia/research connection (Ajou University, Kyeonggi University, Kyunghee University, etc), and building of information exchange infrastructure for dynamic diffusion of innovative technologies. 

Thirdly, it would promote expansion of tourism and leisure in southern Gyeonggi province and develop the nation’s first ecological city. 
The New Town will promote development of a dynamic tourism stronghold via fusion of leisure, rest and business functions by combining related man-made objects and environment with beautiful natural environment of Mt. Gwanggyo. The plan also specifies that “Gwanggyo Techno Valley” will become the nation’s first ecological city with an application of wind channels, heat island interception belt, ecological road and water circulation system. 

Fourthly, the plan hopes to create forward-looking urban culture with an introduction of new design skills such as a city image specialization strategy. 
Details on water-friendly single housing zones, demo education complexes (apartments), waterfront, theme museums, art galleries, college cultural facilities, events streets, high quality settlement spaces reflect the province’s determination to reach such a goal. A city image specialization strategy for environment-friendly cultural & educational belt and a water friendly cultural & commercial belt will provide the public with educational environment of the highest standard to foster next generation talents. 

Fifth, the development will be run through non-profit foundation of a high standard. 
This entails available financial resource to be expanded by introducing various earnings models like establishment of reflux type developing plan considering feasibility and underground space utilization in subway stations. It also includes investment of the earnings from those projects in full amount. With all this, Gyeonggi province will secure advanced city infrastructure facilities. 

– In the presentation conference on the day, Gyeonggi Provincial Governor Sohn Hak-kyu urged that development of “Gwanggyo Techno Valley” play a role as the technology power house and high-end industry through integration of research facilities with an emphasis on making a green and global city of forward-looking perspective to pave the way for brighter future of the nation. 

– Gyeonggi province plans to develop “Gwanggyo Techno Valley” spread over the 3.35 million pyong-area in Ieui-dong and its vicinities of Suwon and Sanghyeon-dong in Yongin. It will become not only a dynamically multifunctional and diverse city differentiated from other new cities, but also a home for warm hearts and health featuring the vivid nature. The plan is to provide housing lots by the end of 2006 through compensation and implementation approval procedures, after attaining a developing plan approval form the Ministry of Construction and Transportation in 2005. Apartments will be sold by 2007 and residents may move in by 2009. The whole project is scheduled for completion by 2010. 

– There are three bodies acting as enforcers of “Gwanggyo Techno Valley” project: Gyeonggi-do, Suwon, and Yongin. A provincial official mentioned that the project’s significance lied in that the project for a large scale development of a new town would be carried out by local governments jointly for the first time. Many provincial residents are paying great interest to the project with much enthusiasm.