WINNERS GALLERY

Cheongju: A City for Entrepreneurs

Cheongju City is working to create a thriving business-friendly city where large corporations and small and medium-sized enterprises can coexist and thrive, by strategically attracting promising companies in cutting-edge industries like semiconductors, secondary batteries, and biotechnology, and laying the groundwork for a sustainable future for the city over the next 100 years.

Cheongju City is the transportation hub of Korea, where KTX Osong Station and Cheongju International Airport are located, making it easily accessible from anywhere in the country within a 2-hour radius.

The Osong Medical Complex, home to six national bio institutes, boasts a wealth of research support facilities that facilitate corporate R&D, and its 860,000-strong population offers a favorable environment for companies to hire and retain talent.

Cheongju City is emerging as a hub for cutting-edge strategic industries, including semiconductors, secondary batteries, and biotechnology. Some notable companies include SK Hynix’s M15X, LG Energy Solution, Inox Advanced Materials, and HD Hyundai Electric.

To create a business-friendly city, Cheongju City has established a corporate support team to address business challenges and actively incorporates corporate demands, from regulatory reform to financial support, into its policies. To address the challenges, the company has been actively engaging in direct communication with businesses, pushing forward with initiatives such as the Cheongju Condition Improvement Project to improve working conditions and the expansion of management stabilization funds.

A city official said, “Cheongju views the concerns of companies as its own, and aims to grow together with them.” “We will strive to become a warm partner city that carefully addresses even the smallest inconveniences, so that companies that trust and visit Cheongju can establish a strong foundation.”

2026 WINNERS