Turning Jeju into free international city
Jeju Science Park is one of the six core projects of the Jeju Free International City Development Center (JDC). / Courtesy of JDC
JDC celebrates 10th anniversary
Byon Jong-il, chairman of the Jeju Free International City Development Center (JDC), speaks during a recent interview with The Korea Times.
By Yun Suh-young
The southern resort island of Jeju has seen some drastic changes over the past 10 years. Several international schools were built, a healthcare town was under construction, and a resort complex and a science park are underway.
The achievements go hand in hand with the growth of the Jeju Free International City Development Center (JDC) whose purpose was to develop Jeju into a city where companies are free to do business and goods and capital as well as people can freely move around.
JDC is an affiliate organization of the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs. It was founded in 2002 based on the Special Act on Establishment of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and Jeju Free International City to turn Jeju into a free international city, like Hong Kong and Singapore.
Students participate in a class conducted by foreign instructors at the North London College School (NLCS) Jeju, an international school established on Jeju last year. / Courtesy of JDC
Jeju has, indeed, moved a step forward to become a global city with the help of JDC.
As the JDC celebrates the 10th anniversary of its establishment, The Korea Times conducted an interview with Byon Jong-il, chairman of JDC, to learn about JDC’s business achievements this year and its plans for next year.
The following is an excerpt of questions and answers:
Q. What are the core projects of the JDC?
A.
JDC has launched six core projects over the past 10 years which are Jeju Science Park, Resort-type Residential Complex, Myths and History Theme Park, Jeju Healthcare Town, Seogwipo Tourism Port and Jeju Global Education City.
Beginning in 2012, we classified our projects into four categories ― core, strategy, management and support for residents, depending on the characteristics and importance of the project. JDC’s main focus lies in Science Park, Global Education City, Healthcare Town and Myths and History Theme Park.
In the case of Jeju Science Park, the target is knowledge-based companies at home and abroad in such fields as information technology, biotechnology and research and development.
Jeju Global Education City targets in attracting foreign and Korean students. It plans to accommodate parents who would otherwise send their children overseas.
Jeju Healthcare Town and Myths and History Theme Park target not only Jeju islanders but also tourists.
Like such, the target of our projects may be different, but our aim is the same ― to make Jeju into a free international city that can serve anyone in need.
Q. JDC celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. What has the JDC achieved over the past 10 years?
JDC has pursued core projects to grow Jeju into a global business hub over the past 10 years and these efforts have paid off.
At Jeju Global Education City (JGEC), three international schools have opened within two years.
Last year, Korea International School’s Jeju Campus and North London Collegiate School Jeju opened. In October this year, Branksome Hall Asia (BHA) opened. We have also recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with St. Johnsbury Academy based in the United States to establish a campus in JGEC.
In Jeju Science Park, around 100 companies have already moved in or are preparing to move in. JDC has recently signed a contract with KOKANDO, a Japanese pharmaceutical company, to lease office space in the park. All of the park’s industrial facilities are already occupied.
The Jeju Healthcare Town is a combination of recreation and medical services. Following a memorandum of understanding with the Seowoo–Jungdae Real Estate Consortium in 2011, JDC concluded a 1 trillion won investment deal with Greenland Group, adding momentum to the project.
The Resort-type Residential Complex is set to begin construction soon. JDC has transferred this project to a joint venture established in 2008 with Malaysian company Berjaya. About 2.3 billion won will be invested in the project.
The Jeju Aero Space Museum is under construction in the Myths and History Theme Park.
As such, Jeju has strengthened its foundation to become a free international city, with diverse projects. Personally, I’m very proud to see the island’s status rise sharply at home and abroad.
Q. Recently, several international schools opened in Jeju. JDC has also recently signed an agreement with a U.S.-based school to open on Jeju in 2015. What is the purpose of the JGEC and what are some progresses? These international schools also face criticism that they lack foreign students and that they are for “the rich.” What do you think of this controversy?
The JGEC project is not about simply attracting renowned foreign schools to Jeju. It is a national project that is designed to prevent the outflow of foreign currency by meeting the demand for overseas study and have a positive impact on the local educational system by providing the best educational services.
To meet this demand, NLCS Jeju, a prestigious U.K. school, opened last year, followed by Branksome Hall Asia, the first overseas campus of Canada-based Branksome Hall, this October. In addition, the final agreement with St. Johnsbury Academy was concluded with the aim of opening the school in September 2015. This means that JGEC will be home to premier private schools from three major English-speaking countries ― the U.S., the U.K. and Canada.
As I said before, JGEC aims to meet the local demand for overseas studies. JGEC schools have the same curriculum as their main campuses. Graduates of the schools have their diplomas officially recognized as the main campus’ diploma. They become alumni of the main campus and receive the same benefits as those at the main campus when they apply to universities abroad.
I’m proud to say that JGEC schools are the best alternative to local students wishing to receive overseas studies, considering costs and family issues. When it comes to the lack of foreign students, JDC will make all-out efforts to attract students from Asia and non-English-speaking countries and increase the number of foreigners staying on Jeju. This is to help make Jeju a hub for students with diverse backgrounds and nationalities, thereby moving closer to turning JGEC into an educational hub for Northeast Asia.
Q. We heard that a Chinese real estate company is working to invest 1 trillion won in the Jeju Healthcare Town (JHT) project. Could you explain the project in detail?
JDC signed an MOA with Greenland Group of Shanghai in China in July to attract an investment of about 1 trillion won to JHT. Greenland Group is a property developer that is on the global 500 list of top companies and the biggest real estate enterprise in Shanghai. It is working on development projects in 60 large cities in 24 provinces across China, while constructing 15 high-rise buildings.
Under the agreement, Greenland Group will build a medical research and development center (R&D), recreational and cultural facilities and accommodations on approximately 778,000 square meters of land out of JHT’s total 1.54 million square-meter site. The JHT project will begin with creating recreational condominiums in the first stage, Wellness Mall, Well-being Food Zone and Healing Garden in the second stage, and R&D and anti-aging centers in the third stage. JDC held a ground-breaking ceremony for JHT in October.
Q. How will Jeju look when all of JDC’s projects are completed?
When all the projects are completed, Jeju would truly become a free international city that can outperform Hong Kong and Singapore. It will be home to tourism, leisure and advanced knowledge-based industries.
In addition, people with diverse nationalities, products and capital would be able to move freely, while global companies will do business in a more convenient environment. To this end, JDC has been establishing urban infrastructures over the past 10 years in line with its first action plan. JDC’s next 10-year plan will focus on business acceleration.
Until now, Jeju has been known for being free of thieves, beggars and gates at homes. When all of JDC’s projects are completed, Jeju will grow into a Northeast Asian hub of education, healthcare and tourism.
Who is Byon Jong-il?
Born in 1943, Byon Jong-il studied law at Seoul National University (SNU) and earned a master’s degree in law at SNU and a doctoral degree in law at Konkuk University. After passing the bar exam in 1965, he served as a judge for Seoul Central District Court and the first director general of the Constitutional Court of Korea. He was elected to the 10th, 14th and 15th National Assembly. During his tenure in the National Assembly, he chaired the Special Committee on Ethics and the Legislative and Judiciary Committee. He started working as chief attorney for Hanbeol, a law firm, in 2004. He was appointed JDC chairman in 2009 and is now committed to building Jeju Free International City.