Global Economic Times

Bucheon City Accelerates Transformation into Advanced Science and Business Hub, Attracting Anchor Enterprises Like Korean Air, SK, and DN Solutions: KO YONG-CHUL Reporter / Updated : 2025-05-25 16:39:29

Bucheon City, South Korea – Bucheon City is making significant strides toward its vision of becoming an "Advanced Science and Business City," positioning itself as a new growth engine within the Seoul Metropolitan Area's western industrial belt. The city has successfully attracted leading domestic companies, including Korean Air, SK Greentecno Campus, and DN Solutions, by signing successive investment agreements to establish their presence in the Bucheon Daejang Urban Advanced Industrial Complex.

With these anchor companies firmly in place, Bucheon City is intensifying its "Bucheon Sales" efforts to draw in additional firms in cutting-edge sectors such as aerospace, semiconductors, robotics, precision machinery, bio-health, and eco-friendly industries.

Leading Companies in Aerospace, Precision Machinery, and Energy Converge to Build a Converged Ecosystem

This year has seen Bucheon City announce two major investment attraction successes. Last month, Korean Air signed an agreement to establish a drone research institute, assembly plant, and flight training center on a 65,000-square-meter site within the Bucheon Daejang 2nd Urban Advanced Industrial Complex. This facility is expected to house approximately 1,000 specialized personnel and provide flight training for an estimated 21,000 pilots annually. Bucheon City envisions this development as a springboard to becoming a global hub for the aerospace industry.

Earlier this year, the city secured a 240 billion won investment agreement with DN Solutions, the top South Korean manufacturer of lathes and machining centers and a global top-three player. DN Solutions is currently constructing an advanced technology R&D center in the Bucheon Daejang 1st Industrial Complex, aiming for completion by 2028.

Prior to these, in 2023, an agreement was also reached for the creation of the SK Greentecno Campus, which will host key affiliates of SK Group, including SK Innovation. This eco-friendly energy R&D complex, spanning approximately 137,000 square meters, is anticipated to employ around 1,000 master's and Ph.D.-level researchers.

Bucheon City anticipates significant synergistic effects from the convergence of these diverse industry leaders in one location, fostering technological integration, collaborative R&D, and the establishment of robust cooperative networks. This strategy is expected to serve as a crucial driving force in creating a converged advanced industrial ecosystem, moving beyond a mere industrial complex.

First Local Government to Host a Booth at ECCK Event; Global Investment Attraction in Full Swing

Bucheon City is also actively pursuing overseas investment. On May 15th, the city made history by becoming the first local government to operate an on-site promotional booth at the "All European Network Night 2025" event, hosted by the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ECCK) at the Grand Hyatt Seoul.

The event saw attendance from Bucheon Mayor Cho Yong-ik, over 200 representatives from European businesses across 12 countries, and figures from diplomatic and economic institutions. Bucheon City utilized the opportunity to screen promotional videos of its industrial complexes and conduct one-on-one customized consultations, spotlighting the geographical advantages and investment incentives of Bucheon Daejang.

European business leaders present reportedly showed keen interest in the complex's proximity to international airports and its excellent transportation infrastructure, including the planned GTX-D (Great Train eXpress) line and the Daejang-Hongdae Line.

During the event, Mayor Cho Yong-ik personally met with ECCK Chairman H.E. Filip Van Hoolf, Heikki Ranta, Chairman of the Finnish Chamber of Commerce in Korea, and Choi Moon-seop, CEO of Miele Korea, to articulate Bucheon's industrial vision and investment appeal.

Furthermore, Mayor Cho participated in breakfast meetings hosted by the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) in March and April, where he shared Bucheon's differentiated investment strategies. He is also slated to attend the Invest KOREA Summit in the latter half of the year.

Mayor Cho Yong-ik stated, "Attracting excellent companies and increasing quality jobs is expected to boost Bucheon's floating population and vitalize the local economy across hospitality, transportation, and commerce." He added, "Leveraging the advantages of being a prime transportation hub in the metropolitan area, we aim to create a self-sufficient city where people gather, live, and work in close proximity."