Mayor shares update on Sanodong e-commerce logistics complex project at monthly staff meeting
Guri Mayor Shin Dong-hwa shared an update on the Sanodong e-commerce logistics complex development project at a monthly staff meeting Tuesday, saying the city would seek a realistic development plan that reflects changed conditions and strengthens Sanodong's self-sustaining functions while fostering future industries.
The project was launched in earnest following the government's 2020 announcement of the "Korean New Deal Smart Logistics System" initiative. It called for developing a new growth hub on a roughly 960,000-square-meter site in the Sanodong area, combining logistics facilities, a techno valley and the relocation of the Guri Agricultural and Marine Products Wholesale Market.
The city failed to secure project feasibility in a first preliminary feasibility study in 2022, revised its plans and reapplied in 2024, but was notified by project operator Korea Land and Housing Corp. (LH) in January that the second study had again found the project lacking in feasibility.
In August, LH told the city that securing feasibility would likely remain difficult even if a third preliminary feasibility study were pursued, citing the results of the two previous studies, the cost-benefit ratio of the logistics facilities, rising project costs driven by surrounding development and prolonged vacancies at nearby knowledge industry centers.
In response, Guri will reassess the viability of the existing project approach based on LH's review, while maintaining its core direction of developing Sanodong into a growth hub to strengthen the city's self-sustaining functions and cultivate future industries.
The city also plans to consult closely with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, LH and other relevant agencies to conduct a comprehensive review accounting for the site's location and surrounding development conditions, and to draw up a concrete plan linking key local priorities — including business attraction, quality job creation and the relocation of the Guri Agricultural and Marine Products Wholesale Market.
"We must take the results of two preliminary feasibility studies and LH's assessment seriously, but we cannot limit our vision to simply deciding whether to continue the existing project," Mayor Shin said. "Based on the progress we have made, we will carefully determine what to carry forward and what to boldly change, and find a workable solution that positions Sanodong as a new growth axis driving Guri's future."
pjh@heraldcorp.com
