The Gangwon Free Economic Zone Authority announced Wednesday that it has issued a public notice seeking companies to participate in the eighth round of investment firm selection for the hydrogen energy sector in the Bukpyeong district of Donghae.
The notice aims to identify companies willing to invest in hydrogen energy — the Bukpyeong district's core strategic industry — and to strengthen the competitiveness of the local hydrogen sector by clustering related businesses in one area.
Eligible applicants include specialized hydrogen companies, general hydrogen companies and hydrogen-conversion companies. The application window runs from Oct. 19 to Oct. 21. Further details are available on the authority's official website under its public notices and announcements board.
Selected companies will be given priority for move-in to the long-term lease complex in the Bukpyeong district, a project being developed by the Korea Industrial Complex Corporation's Donghae branch.
The Bukpyeong district has been developing hydrogen energy as its flagship strategic industry and actively recruiting related businesses. The latest selection round is expected to accelerate the clustering of hydrogen companies and lay a broader foundation for the local industrial ecosystem.
The Donghae Bukpyeong hydrogen storage and transportation cluster will serve as a core infrastructure hub for technology development, testing and demonstration, and business support for hydrogen-related industries. The project runs from 2024 to 2028 with a total budget of 66.8 billion won ($50 million).
The hydrogen storage and transportation cluster taking shape inside the Donghae Bukpyeong Second General Industrial Complex will include a three-story industrial promotion center to support technology development and commercialization by hydrogen companies. A safety testing center and a systems demonstration center will also be built to verify the safety, performance and technical standards of hydrogen technologies and products.
"The construction of this cluster will mark a historic turning point as Donghae evolves beyond a simple energy industry city into a forward operating base for the hydrogen industry," Donghae Mayor Lee Jeong-hak said. "By building advanced infrastructure, we will inject vitality into the local economy, fulfill the era's defining challenge of achieving carbon neutrality, and create a sustainable city for the future."
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