Wonju-si declares it is fully prepared to attract the second relocation of public institutions to the innovation city

[Financial News, Wonju = Kim Gi-seop] Wonju-si announced that it has completed preparations to attract public institutions ahead of the government's second relocation plan.
At a briefing in the city hall briefing room on the 26th, Wonju Mayor Gu Ja-yeol said the second relocation of public institutions should be carried out to existing innovation cities in accordance with the law, stressing that Gangwon Wonju Innovation City is the best location. The city said it has been preparing in stages since 2019.
The city described the second relocation of public institutions as a key pillar supporting the government's balanced national growth strategy. In the first relocation, which began in 2005, Wonju received public institutions in the health and life sciences sector, laying the groundwork for future industries such as the AI transformation of the medical industry and digital healthcare. The city plans to strengthen that growth base by adding the second relocation.
The city also outlined its preparations. It began with a strategy study in 2019 and formed the Public Institution Attraction TF Team in 2023. Last year, it reorganized its strategy for a total of 65 institutions, including 37 priority targets and 28 institutions of interest, across sectors such as health and life sciences, research and technology, resources and industry, and tourism, culture and sports. Based on that plan, the city held more than 35 meetings with public institutions in the Seoul metropolitan area to explain the location advantages and support measures of Wonju Innovation City, and it also visited two institutions in the health and medical sector in July.
The city said it has also completed preparations to help relocating institutions settle in quickly. Since 2023, it has surveyed vacant spaces in the innovation city every year and has secured about 110,000 square meters of usable space in more than 50 buildings. Once relocation is confirmed, it plans to provide temporary office space immediately, tailored to each institution's needs. In terms of living conditions, Wonju ranked third in a nationwide satisfaction survey of 10 innovation cities in 2024. Last year, the city enacted the Wonju-si Ordinance on the Attraction and Support of Public Institutions and Others, creating a legal basis for support such as housing loan interest subsidies, relocation incentives, and scholarships for children entering or transferring schools.
The city said the Special Act on the Establishment and Development of Innovative Cities stipulates that relocating public institutions should move to innovation cities, and it asked the government to make the relocation principle clear, noting that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has cited "agglomeration and concentration" as a key task for the second relocation. With many local governments competing fiercely to attract these institutions, the city said a clear principle is also needed to prevent wasteful use of administrative resources.
Wonju Mayor Gu Ja-yeol said, "We have completed our preparations to expand the benefits of the second relocation across Gangwon Province by building on the foundation of the innovation city," adding, "As soon as the government makes its announcement, we will do our utmost to ensure that relocating institutions can begin operations without disruption and settle in quickly."

[email protected] Kim Gi-seop Reporter