Gyeonggi Provincial Councilor Baek Hyeon-jong: "Public Housing Districts Must Evolve Beyond Simple Residential Areas to Embrace Industry and Jobs"

Revolutionary Legislative Framework for Self-Sufficient Urban Development

Did you know that South Korea is pioneering a revolutionary approach to urban development that could reshape how we think about residential communities? The Gyeonggi Provincial Council has just passed a groundbreaking ordinance that aims to transform public housing districts from simple residential areas into vibrant, self-sufficient cities where people can both live and work.

On July 15, 2025, the 'Gyeonggi Province Public Housing District Corporate Attraction Revitalization Support Ordinance' proposed by Representative Baek Hyeon-jong of the People Power Party (Guri-1) successfully passed the first Urban Environment Committee meeting of the 385th extraordinary session. This landmark legislation represents a fundamental shift in how South Korea approaches urban planning and development.

The ordinance specifically targets urban-type factories and knowledge industry centers within public housing districts, creating systematic frameworks to attract both domestic and international companies. The goal is ambitious yet practical: to create sustainable, self-sufficient cities where residents don't need to commute long distances for work, thereby improving quality of life while boosting local economies.

This development is particularly significant in the context of South Korea's rapid urbanization and the ongoing challenges of bedroom communities that lack adequate employment opportunities. By integrating residential and industrial functions, these districts could serve as models for sustainable urban development not just in Korea, but globally.

The Visionary Behind the Change: Councilor Baek Hyeon-jong's Strategic Approach

Representative Baek Hyeon-jong has emerged as a key figure in South Korea's urban development landscape, bringing decades of experience in both progressive and conservative political spheres to bear on contemporary urban challenges. His 35-year career has been marked by significant achievements, including being the first in the nation to successfully advocate for the full return of unfair profits from land development to residents.

In his proposal explanation, Baek emphasized that "public housing districts must now evolve beyond simple residential spaces to become cities with self-sufficient functions." He stressed that "strategic corporate attraction policies must be implemented from the planning stage itself." This forward-thinking approach reflects a deep understanding of the interconnected nature of modern urban life.

Baek's vision extends beyond mere policy implementation. He has consistently advocated for comprehensive solutions that address both immediate housing needs and long-term economic sustainability. His work on this ordinance demonstrates a nuanced understanding of how residential development can be leveraged to create broader economic opportunities.

The councilor's approach is particularly noteworthy because it represents a departure from traditional Korean urban planning, which often separated residential and industrial zones. By advocating for integrated development, Baek is championing a more holistic approach to city building that could influence urban planning practices across the region.

Key Components of the Corporate Attraction Framework

The ordinance establishes several crucial mechanisms designed to systematically attract and support companies in public housing districts. At its core is the establishment of a 'Public Housing District Corporate Attraction Recommendation Committee' that will deliberate and advise on corporate attraction matters. This committee represents a significant institutional innovation, providing a dedicated body to oversee and coordinate attraction efforts.

The framework includes comprehensive provisions for committee composition and operation, ensuring that the body has the necessary expertise and authority to make effective decisions. Additionally, the ordinance introduces a private expert consultation system, recognizing that successful corporate attraction requires specialized knowledge and industry connections that government bodies alone may not possess.

One particularly innovative aspect is the inclusion of provisions for recognizing and rewarding those who contribute to successful corporate attraction efforts. This incentive system acknowledges that effective corporate attraction is often the result of individual initiative and relationship-building, and seeks to encourage such efforts through formal recognition.

The ordinance also establishes clear operational guidelines and procedures, ensuring that the corporate attraction process is transparent, efficient, and accountable. This systematic approach addresses previous criticisms about the lack of clear strategies for utilizing industrial land in public housing districts.

Addressing Historical Challenges in Public Housing Development

For years, public housing districts in South Korea have faced a fundamental challenge: while industrial land was allocated within these developments, the absence of clear corporate attraction strategies meant that much of this potential remained unrealized. This led to situations where residents had to commute long distances for work, defeating the purpose of creating self-sufficient communities.

The economic impact of this disconnect has been significant. Without local employment opportunities, public housing districts often became bedroom communities that contributed little to regional economic growth. Local businesses struggled to find customers, and the districts failed to develop the vibrant economic ecosystems that characterize successful urban developments.

Community reactions to this ordinance have been largely positive, with residents expressing hope that it will finally address the long-standing issue of job scarcity in their neighborhoods. Online forums and community discussions have highlighted the frustration many residents feel about having to travel long distances for work, and the optimism that this new framework might finally provide local employment opportunities.

The ordinance represents a recognition by policymakers that successful urban development requires more than just providing housing – it requires creating complete communities where people can live, work, and thrive. This holistic approach reflects lessons learned from decades of urban development experience in South Korea.

The Guri Topyeong-2 Test Case: A Model for Future Development

The Guri Topyeong-2 public housing district, scheduled for designation in the second half of 2025, represents a crucial test case for the new ordinance. This development, covering approximately 2.92 million square meters in Guri City's Topyeong-dong, will be one of the first to benefit from the systematic corporate attraction framework established by the ordinance.

Councilor Baek has expressed particular optimism about this project, noting that "through the application of the ordinance, we will be able to strategically establish corporate attraction foundations from the initial planning stage." This early implementation will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of the new framework and help refine approaches for future developments.

The Guri Topyeong-2 project is particularly significant because Guri City is currently the only city in northern Gyeonggi Province without an industrial complex. This lack of industrial infrastructure has contributed to economic stagnation and limited job opportunities for local residents. The new development, with its integrated approach to residential and industrial planning, could help address these long-standing challenges.

Local community leaders have expressed strong support for the initiative, with petitions already submitted to attract urban high-tech industrial complexes to the area. The enthusiasm from local stakeholders suggests that there is significant pent-up demand for the kind of integrated development that the ordinance aims to facilitate.

Broader Implications for Korean Urban Development

This ordinance comes at a time when South Korea is grappling with broader challenges related to urban development and economic growth. The country's rapid industrialization and urbanization in the latter half of the 20th century created many successful cities, but also led to some unintended consequences, including the creation of bedroom communities that lack economic vitality.

The integrated approach embodied in this ordinance reflects a more sophisticated understanding of urban development that has evolved over decades of experience. By combining residential and industrial functions from the planning stage, the ordinance aims to create more sustainable and economically viable communities.

This development is also significant in the context of South Korea's efforts to promote balanced regional development. By creating job opportunities in public housing districts, the ordinance could help reduce the concentration of employment in major urban centers and support more distributed economic growth.

The ordinance represents a potential model for other regions and countries facing similar challenges. As urbanization continues globally, the lessons learned from South Korea's experience with integrated residential and industrial development could inform urban planning practices worldwide.

Looking Forward: Implementation and Expected Outcomes

The ordinance is scheduled for final approval at the second plenary session on July 23, 2025, marking the completion of the legislative process. Once enacted, it will provide the legal framework necessary for systematic corporate attraction efforts in public housing districts across Gyeonggi Province.

Implementation will require coordination between various levels of government, from provincial authorities to local municipalities, as well as collaboration with private sector partners. The success of the ordinance will depend largely on how effectively these different stakeholders can work together to create attractive environments for corporate investment.

Early indicators suggest that there is significant interest from both the public and private sectors in the opportunities that this ordinance creates. The recent success in attracting Kakao's AI Digital Hub to the Wangsuk district in Namyangju, involving a 600 billion won investment, demonstrates the potential for major corporate attraction initiatives in the region.

The long-term impact of this ordinance could extend far beyond Gyeonggi Province. If successful, it could serve as a model for integrated urban development that other regions in South Korea and internationally might adopt. The focus on creating self-sufficient cities that combine residential and industrial functions represents a forward-thinking approach to urban planning that could influence development practices for years to come.