Bird's-eye-view of bridge in Seogwipo tourism port

Jeju Island became South Korea’s first special self-governance province on July 1, 2006, gaining control over all matters except those related to defense and foreign affairs. This added flexibility helps Jeju to achieve its goal of becoming a free international city that is friendlier to investors and
tourists.

The Korean National Assembly began to pass a series of laws in 2002 that would help Jeju move toward becoming a free international city, and set it on the road to autonomy.

The government also established the Jeju Free International City Development Center (JDC) to guide development of Jeju’s core business sectors: tourism, healthcare and medical services, high technology, and primary industry.

The Korean government chose Jeju to fulfill its special role for some reasons. It is centrally located in Asia, putting it within two hours’ flying time of 17 cities with over five million people. It has already established itself as a popular tourist destination whose popularity has ridden high on the “Korean Wave.”

As part of its development, Jeju is focusing on core business projects, designed to draw both investors and tourists.

◆Health Care Town

Jeju is positioned as a new ‘medical tourism hub’ of Northeast Asia through constructing health care complex linked to the core businesses of the Jeju Special Self-governing Province such as tourism (recreation), medical services, research and development (R&D).

Jeju’s new rules for the healthcare industry will help it to offer some of the best medical services in the world and take advantage of Asia’s growing medical tourism industry.

To further help this industry develop, the government allows foreign investment in medical facilities. Foreign hospitals are able to establish subsidiaries in Jeju and hire foreign-certifi ed doctors, as well.

Also, under revised plan, foreign patients and their family are allowed to stay up to 4 years with medical visa.

One of the planned projects in Jeju, spearheaded by JDC, is a ‘Health Care Town.’ It will include a state-of-the-art medical complex, a health check-up center, and an oriental medicine center, spas and resortstyle accommodation.

◆Myths and History Theme Park

Jeju established a theme park resort of world-class level which offers the experiencing services of global cultures, myths and the world in the movies.

Jeju expanded its tourism market by raising the satisfactory level of tourists through developing its tourism type as various theme parks and entertainment facilities rather than the current nature-based tourism.

It also contributed to the development of local economy along with the active participation of local community by developing the area as a tourism spot which the local culture is effectively  presented.

◆Jeju Global Education City

Jeju Global Education City is a core national project initiated and being implemented by Jeju Free International City and the Korean Government with the goal of creating world-class educational options for Korean and Asian students within a dynamic international learning environment.

Reversing the trend of students studying abroad, particularly for language education, would positively impact our economy.

Moreover, this initiative will strengthen our global competitiveness in the education sector. Each year, tens of thousands of students seeking to become fluent in English must travel overseas. Jeju is committed to providing world-class educational services and attracting students from non-English speaking countries across the world.

Jeju is committed to providing worldclass educational services and attracting students from non-English speaking countries across the world.

In addition, Jeju believes in providing high-impact educational services that combine a rigorous academic curriculum with a dynamic, inquiry-based approach that affords students the opportunity to experience the joy of learning, as they identify their talents and are guided by enthusiastic, committed educators.

By forging partnerships with internationally-renowned schools, Jeju will be able to adapt and offer prestigious academic programs.

The goal of Jeju Global Education City extends beyond English-language acquisition. Jeju wants to create a world-class education system that embraces the value of learning and personal growth to enhance life and global citizenship.

Under the new system, foreign universities can establish branch campuses in Jeju, helping increase educational opportunities for local residents of Jeju and attract top-rate students to the province.

◆Jeju Science Park
Geographically located in center of North East Asia, Jeju has been developed as a free international city where resources, including people, capital, goods, can flow freely, by JDC, a special corporation established by central government in 2002 and a quasi market-oriented public company affiliated with Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs.

The development of the Park is expected to be completed by 2011 to become a ground for IT/BT/R&D industry in Jeju, visioning to create new opportunities and an international environment to enable world class companies to succeed globally.

It will also operate well-designed incubator with outstanding incubating programs where high-tech start-ups and mid-sized companies can be supported and nurtured in creating new businesses by effectively linking talent, technology, capital and know-how. International network has been being established in alliance with leading overseas science parks including Singapore Science Park, Ulm Science Park (Germany), Technium Wales (UK) and Hong Kong Science Park.

It has been making memorandum of understandings (MOUs) with banks and financial organizations to create seed funding and low-interest loans in order to set up venture capital funds for leading-edge companies to start operations in the park.

◆Resort-type Residential Complex

Jeju built the basis of free international city by forming a world class ‘relaxationoriented
residential complex’ which residential, leisure and medical factors are integrated.

The complex is expected to contribute to revitalization of local economy and boost of income of local community. The park is going to play a role of bringing high valueadded income into the local tourism industry with the influx effect of the population and extension of stay of tourists through
forming a new leisure/residential culture.

A luxurious leisure resort complex is also going to be built, making a use of various subjects and architectural styles of Disney.

A resort based on alternative medical center was established by the government of Mexico, targeting the medical tourists from the U.S.

◆Seogwipo Tourism Port

Jeju formed Seogwipo Harbor and neighboring area, which have not been revitalized despite their high tourism potential, as international-level tourism harbor by maintaining and developing them.

Up-scale lodging and resort facilities were installation in nature green areas. Tourism promotion surcharge imposed on tourist hotels will be lifted.

The harbor is a trade port designated by nation and divided into fishing port and commercial port.

Major facilities in port consist in joint market of the fisheries cooperative union, marine police station, boat warehouse and harbor and bay labor union office.

Continuous efforts will be made to control excessive competitions and to put in place a sound tourist culture.

This project aims at improving the infrastructure and has no plan to purchase land.

Specific plan for the land procurement shall be established thorough the consultation with researcher and investors hereafter.

By Shin, Kirim
아주경제= 신기림 기자 kirimi99@ajnews.co.kr
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