Chuncheon has entered the competition to attract public institutions as the government prepares to announce its second round of public institution relocation plans.
The bid by Chuncheon, the provincial capital, has intensified the race among inland cities in Gangwon Province to lure public institutions to the region.
The city enacted an ordinance Thursday on the attraction and support of public institutions, establishing a legal framework to help relocating institutions and their employees and families settle in the city.
The ordinance authorizes the city to cover relocation costs — including rent and construction expenses — as well as site survey and consulting fees and the installation of access roads and other infrastructure.
Employees and their families at relocating institutions may receive relocation settlement grants, children's scholarships and housing loan interest subsidies. Specific beneficiaries and support levels will be determined case by case, following review and deliberation by a dedicated attraction committee.
Chuncheon will also launch a working-level consultative body for public institution relocation, headed by the deputy mayor. The body will bring together relevant city departments to handle institution-specific relocation consultations, site selection, building permits, infrastructure development and employee settlement support in a one-stop process.
The city said several public institutions have recently inquired about relocating to Chuncheon and the support conditions available. Those institutions expressed interest in the city's accessibility to the Greater Seoul area, living conditions — including housing, education, medical care and culture — and potential links to the biotech and data industries, the city said.
Chuncheon plans to survey a broad range of potential sites — from transit-oriented development projects and urban regeneration innovation districts to corporate innovation parks, industrial complexes, city-owned buildings and privately leasable facilities — and propose locations suited to each institution's size and function.
Once the government announces its relocation plan, the city intends to analyze the functions, supervising ministries and staffing levels of targeted institutions to identify priority candidates, then launch one-on-one consultations and on-site visits in earnest.
abc@heraldcorp.com
