CBFEZ Marks its 10th Anniversary with the Announcement of Future Vision 2030

- Sustainable Policy Directions Proposed for the Creation of Osong International City

The Chungbuk Free Economic Zone Authority (CBFEZ) recently held a forum at the Osong C&V Center to celebrate its 10th anniversary. The forum was based on the theme Building a People-Centered Osong International City and outlined the CBFEZ's future vision for 2030.

The first part of the morning event saw Governor Kim Yeong-hwan of Chungcheongbuk-do deliver a commemorative speech, followed by congratulatory addresses by key figures, including Chungcheongbuk-do Assemblyman Hwang Young-ho. The Chungbuk Free Economic Zone Authority Commissioner, Maeng Gyeong-jae, also presented a report on the future vision of the CBFEZ.

In the second part of the forum, a series of discussions led by experts in various fields followed a keynote speech by Director Maeng Gyeong-jae and a thematic presentation by Lee Gyeong-gi, a senior researcher at the Chungbuk Research Institute. The keynote speech covered the future vision strategy of CBFEZ for 2030, with the focus on Cheongju Airport Economic Zone and a Future Strategy for a People-Oriented Osong, presenting a direction for industrial development linked with Cheongju International Airport and the establishment of a Biotech/IT (BIT) convergence high-tech city centered around Osong.

The main content of the forum emphasized the characteristics of Osong as a competitive international city with six major health and medical government institutions and over 130 biotech companies, proposing it as a City of Health. Other proposals included City of Beauty through the annual cosmetics industry expo and the planned establishment of the K-Beauty Academy School in 2027, Hub City for Global Startups with startup-friendly infrastructure like the Creative Economy Innovation Center and Knowledge Industry Center, and Advancing City of the MICE Industry with the launch of the Cheongju Exhibition Hall in 2025. The Railway Central City was also proposed as a candidate site for the national railway cluster with KTX branch stations and railway-related infrastructure. Finally, Osong was proposed as a City of Talent Development Cradle with campuses related to pharmaceuticals and an international school to be established in 2027.

The forum also outlined the short-term and long-term tasks for transforming Osong into a global international city. Short-term tasks include additional designation of free economic zones and improvement of settlement conditions in response to the influx of 40,000 people. Long-term tasks involve enhancing the role of Cheongju International Airport as a leading airport for the development of the Chungcheong region and creating a people-centered convergence cultural welfare city with a population of 100,000 by 2025, and a high-tech, convergence, self-sufficient city with a population of 300,000 by 2030.

Governor Kim Yeong-hwan expressed his ambition for the future, saying, On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Chungbuk Free Economic Zone Authority, we will take this opportunity to make a second leap forward,  making CBFEZ the growth engine of Chungbuk and placing Osong at the center of Korea.