Pocheon mayor marks 100 days with plan for defense and drone industry cluster
In short
Pocheon Mayor Baek Young-hyun (백영현) said the city will turn returned military bases and surrounding land into an advanced defense industry innovation cluster centred on the Gyeonggi Defense Venture Center (경기국방벤처센터), and use a special drone free zone to grow AI, drone and defense businesses. He presented the plans at a briefing marking 100 days of his new term, alongside goals for health care, education, farming, transport and parks.
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Pocheon Mayor Baek Young-hyun (백영현) has set out plans to turn military facilities that long held back the city's development into a base for advanced defense and drone industries. He presented them at a briefing for journalists marking 100 days of his ninth-term local administration, held at the Durundurun education and culture complex in Soheul-eup. Seoul Economic Daily dated the event 8 October, while Newsis wrote that it took place on the 9th. [ 2 , 3 ]
Baek said the city would convert returned military bases and their surroundings into growth opportunities and build an advanced defense industry innovation cluster centred on the Gyeonggi Defense Venture Center. He also said a special drone free zone would be used to build a drone industry, with AI, drones and defense developed as future industries. "Pocheon is not an underdeveloped military city," Newsis quoted him as saying. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
In an interview with the Korea Economic Daily, Baek gave more detail. The cluster is meant to bring together companies and research bodies working on AI weapons systems, drones, unmanned robots and advanced defense materials, and the city has renamed its New Growth Business Division the Advanced Defense Industry Division to run it. The former 6th Army Corps site, whose return is being pursued, is to serve as a hub, and a 'Pocheon Advanced Strategic General Industrial Complex' is planned in nearby Jajak-dong. A defense industry development council of companies, research institutes, universities and the military was launched last month. The city also plans to link the venture centre, which sits within Daejin University's (대진대학교) industry-academic cooperation foundation, with an LIG Nex1 maintenance support centre in Soheul-eup and a Hanwha Systems maintenance support centre. Baek said he would make Pocheon a key forward base for Korean defense exports. [ 1 ]
On transport, the Korea Economic Daily reported that the city is pushing the extension of subway Line 7 from Okjeong to Pocheon, the GTX-G line and a Pocheon–Cheorwon expressway. Newsis and Seoul Economic Daily reported plans to develop station areas of the Okjeong–Pocheon railway in Soheul, Seondan and Pocheon as growth hubs and to make the Hantan River area a tourism centre. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Baek's slogan for the term is 'a humanities city where my life is happy, Pride Pocheon'. Plans include a 24-hour local emergency medical system, wider long-term care and dementia support, AI-based health management, a bid to be named an education innovation leading region, smart farming and a smart livestock complex to cut odours, and everyday gardens at Cheongseongsan, Taebong Park and other green spaces. [ 2 , 3 ]
As achievements, Baek cited the start of construction on the full Okjeong–Pocheon railway, 2,480 parking spaces and 610 of 1,102 citizen suggestions handled. Seoul Economic Daily added that the city secured a record 149.1 billion won in national and provincial funds last year. With Gyeonggi Province's finances worsening, Baek said the city would focus on residents' livelihoods. [ 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The mayor is pitching military facilities that have long restricted Pocheon's development as an asset for defense research, testing and production. The plans depend on the return of former military sites and on rail and road projects, and Baek said the city would prioritise spending as Gyeonggi Province's finances worsen.
Key facts
- Baek Young-hyun held a briefing marking 100 days of his ninth-term local administration at the Durundurun (두런두런) education and culture complex in Pocheon. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The city plans an advanced defense industry innovation cluster centred on the Gyeonggi Defense Venture Center, using returned military bases and nearby land. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Pocheon plans to use a special drone free zone to build a drone industry and develop AI, drones and defense as future industries. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The city renamed its New Growth Business Division as the Advanced Defense Industry Division to run the cluster project, the Korea Economic Daily reported. [ 1 ]
- Baek's vision for the term is 'a humanities city where my life is happy, Pride Pocheon', with four core strategies covering health, humanities, balanced economic development and a 'garden city'. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Baek listed the start of construction on the full Okjeong–Pocheon metropolitan railway, 2,480 new parking spaces and the handling of 610 of 1,102 citizen suggestions as achievements. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The administration has carried out a reorganisation and drawn up implementation plans for 148 election pledges. [ 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Pocheon plans to build an advanced defense industry innovation cluster centred on the Gyeonggi Defense Venture Center using returned military bases and surrounding areas. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The city will use a special drone free zone to grow drone, AI and defense industries. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Baek presented his term's direction, 'a humanities city where my life is happy, Pride Pocheon', with four core strategies, at Durundurun to mark 100 days in office. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Station areas of the Okjeong–Pocheon metropolitan railway in the Soheul, Seondan and Pocheon urban areas are to be developed as new growth hubs. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Baek said he would focus on residents' livelihoods through selection and concentration as Gyeonggi Province's finances deteriorate. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The date of the 100-day briefing. Seoul Economic Daily dated it 8 October; Newsis wrote that it was held on the 9th, although its photo caption and publication date are 8 October.
- The status of the former 6th Army Corps site. Only the Korea Economic Daily mentions it, and it says the site's return is still being pursued.
- A record 149.1 billion won in national and provincial funding secured last year. Only Seoul Economic Daily reported this figure.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- 7 October: Korea Economic Daily publishes an interview in which Baek describes plans for a K-AI advanced defense industry cluster and transport links. [ 1 ]
- 8 October: Newsis reports on Baek's 100-day press briefing at Durundurun. [ 2 ]
- 8 October: Seoul Economic Daily reports on Baek's 100-day policy direction and record. [ 3 ]