WINNERS GALLERY

Cheongju is a business-friendly city where large and small enterprises coexist. It has established a foundation for ‘food for the next 100 years’ by attracting promising companies in strategic industries such as semiconductors, secondary batteries, and biotechnology. Additionally, Cheongju is centrally located in the transportation network of Korea, with access within two hours from anywhere in Korea, thanks to KTX Osong Station and Cheongju International Airport.

Cheongju supports company R&D with abundant research support facilities, including the Osong Advanced Medical Complex, where six national bio-research institutes are located, and the construction of a multipurpose synchrotron radiation accelerator. International companies, such as SK Hynix, LG Energy Solution, and EcoPro have formed semiconductor and secondary battery clusters in 13 industrial complexes. Furthermore, 16 more industrial complexes are planned in conjunction with attracting high-tech companies. Despite reduced investment caused by the ongoing economic downturn, Cheongju has secured investment totaling 24.8915 Trillion won from companies in emerging industries.

Cheongju has been solving business difficulties and reflecting them to the municipal government as requested by companies by establishing a Business Support Team, dealing with regulatory reform to financial support. From July 2022, Cheongju communicated with 108 companies on-site and addressed 165 issues raised by companies. Major policies reflecting business concerns include △amendments of ordinances on the building distance for speculative buildings, △promotion of local product priority purchasing for SME market development, △improvement of poor working conditions, and △expansion of management stability funds (from 5 Billion to 8 Billion won, from 3 years to 4 years). An official from the Cheongju Municipal Government stated, “While actively attracting substantive investments, we will also make Cheongju the great city for business where businesses feel comfortable by addressing their inconveniences.”