Shin Sang-jin, the mayor of Seongnam, expressed his commitment on November 6 to create a global AI innovation city that continues the success story of Pangyo.
The city plans to advance the Fourth Tech Valley project in the Ori Station area of Bundang-gu, aiming to develop it into a hub for the artificial intelligence (AI) industry.
To accelerate the project, Mayor Shin has shifted the approach from designating an urban innovation zone to modifying the district unit plan.
As a result, Seongnam has announced the 'Guidelines for Changing the District Unit Plan for the Ori Station Area Fourth Tech Valley' and provided specific development criteria.
The initial consideration of designating an urban innovation zone involved complex procedures requiring approval from the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, input from the city council, and review by the Central Urban Planning Committee, which could have prolonged the project.
To reduce delays and uncertainties in the designation process, Mayor Shin opted for the district unit plan modification method, which can be pursued at his discretion.
Following the change in project approach in April, the announcement of these guidelines establishes a regulatory foundation for substantial development.
The core of the guidelines is to set development standards tailored to the characteristics of each site and to relax the floor area ratio to a maximum of 800% to encourage private investment and participation in development.
The public-led development sites include the Seongnam Agricultural and Fishery Comprehensive Distribution Center (72,416 square meters) and the courthouse and prosecutor's office site (27,702 square meters), which will be developed as industrial complex land.
The plan is to attract key companies in advanced industries, such as AI anchor firms, while prohibiting residential facilities and ensuring that office and educational research facilities account for more than 70% of the total floor area.
The standard floor area ratio is set at 700%, with the potential to reach 800% through incentives.
The bus garage area (82,449 square meters) and the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) Ori office site (38,211 square meters) will be developed as self-sufficient mixed-use land that integrates industrial, business, and residential functions.
In particular, Mayor Shin plans to prioritize a public-private urban development project for the bus garage area.
Private land (74,396 square meters) will be categorized into commercial mixed-use and support facility land to encourage autonomous development.
For developments with a minimum plot size of 2,000 square meters or joint developments of two or more plots, regulatory relief incentives will be applied according to the guidelines.
However, to qualify for the maximum allowable floor area ratio, developers must comply with public contribution procedures, such as providing or paying for infrastructure, as outlined in Seongnam's pre-negotiation operational guidelines, Mayor Shin noted.
With the announcement of these guidelines, Mayor Shin plans to accept various development proposals from the private sector and aims to pursue changes to the district unit plan for public-owned sites, including the Agricultural and Fishery Comprehensive Distribution Center, by 2027.
Additionally, he intends to attract key companies in advanced industries, including AI, through a competition for excellent companies.
Mayor Shin envisions the Ori Station area as a new hub for advanced industries in southern Seongnam, linked to the Pangyo Tech Valley.
The goal is to create a future-oriented mixed-use city where businesses, research, and educational facilities centered around the AI industry coexist harmoniously with jobs, housing, and cultural functions.
Meanwhile, Mayor Shin Sang-jin stated, "The announcement of these guidelines represents a significant advancement in presenting a concrete development blueprint for the Ori Station Area Fourth Tech Valley and in launching the project in earnest."
He added, "We will create a world-class AI innovation city that continues the success story of Pangyo through bold regulatory relaxation and the creative development capabilities of the private sector."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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