Former Daegu Vice Mayor for Economic Affairs Jeong Hae-yong appointed head of Daegu-Gyeongbuk Free Economic Zone Authority

[Financial News, Daegu = Reporter Kim Jang-wook] “I will do my utmost to make the free economic zone a good place to do business and a forward base for Korea’s innovative growth.”
Daegu City and Gyeongsangbuk-do will appoint Jeong Hae-yong, former Daegu vice mayor for economic affairs, as the new head of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Free Economic Zone Authority, effective the 7th. His term will run through June 30, 2029.
The new chief, Jeong, has extensive experience with local issues and economic policy, having served as a member of the Daegu City Council, head of Daegu City’s Office of Political Affairs Coordination, special adviser for political affairs, and vice mayor for economic affairs.
He also has an extensive network in central government and political circles, having served as a policy research committee member at the National Assembly and as an aide to a National Assembly member.
During his tenure as vice mayor for economic affairs, he pursued policies to build a foundation for future industries, including attracting businesses and supporting investment, as well as the regional talent development initiative (HuStar Project) and the Regional Innovation System (RIS) project based on local government-university collaboration.
He also achieved results in business attraction and investment support, including bringing Seonglim Advanced Industry Co., Ltd. to Daegu through a Daegu-style reshoring initiative and attracting investment in Daegu from numerous companies, including Optimus System Co., Ltd., Meta M Co., Ltd. and Beiriseu Co., Ltd.
He also worked to promote Daegu’s industrial competitiveness internationally through major international and industrial events, including the Daegu International Future Auto Expo (DIFA) and the World Water Forum.
The new chief, Jeong, emphasized, “I will link the specialized industries in each district, expand investment from leading domestic and international companies and global anchor companies, and strengthen industry-academia collaboration systems, including the RIS project, to build a self-sustaining industrial ecosystem.”
He added, “I will establish a business support system centered on the field by listening directly to businesses and proactively addressing regulations and difficulties they face.”
The city expects Jeong to draw on his strong understanding of the local economy on the ground, his experience in administrative and political affairs, and his extensive network in central and regional business circles to accelerate investment attraction and development projects in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Free Economic Zone and create new growth engines for the regional economy.
Mayor Choo Kyung-ho said, “The new chief, Jeong, has a strong understanding of Daegu’s industries and businesses on the ground, as well as experience attracting corporate investment and an extensive personal network. We expect him to play a major role in attracting investment to the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Free Economic Zone and supporting businesses.”
He also urged Jeong, saying, “Please do your utmost to actively attract outstanding domestic and international companies and key anchor companies, create an environment where businesses can invest and grow, and help the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Free Economic Zone become an innovative growth hub leading the region’s future industries.”
Meanwhile, the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Free Economic Zone is expanding its role as an innovative growth hub for future industries, including future mobility, robotics, and medical and healthcare, drawing on the specialized industries of its eight districts.
The region’s competitiveness in future industries is also growing, with Daegu and Gyeongbuk recently jointly designated as a specialized complex for the national high-tech strategic industry in robotics. Building on this, the plan is to focus efforts on attracting outstanding domestic and international companies and key anchor companies, and to further advance the Free Economic Zone’s industrial ecosystem by strengthening industry-academia-research collaboration.
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