Land Ministry seeks 3 sites for 2026 aging industrial complex revitalization program

South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced Tuesday it is seeking applications to select three sites for its 2026 aging industrial complex revitalization program, aimed at boosting the competitiveness of deteriorating industrial zones and creating a sustainable industrial environment.

Industrial complexes form a core pillar of the national economy, but the growing age of many facilities has made comprehensive redevelopment increasingly urgent. According to the ministry, 520 of the country's 1,370 industrial complexes — 38 percent of the total — were more than 20 years old as of the end of last year.

To address this, the ministry has been running a revitalization program that provides up to 50 billion won ($37.8 million) per site in national funding to upgrade and expand infrastructure such as roads, parking lots, parks and green spaces. The program also calls for industry-relocation plans to nurture regional strategic industries and attract advanced sectors, and encourages changes to land-use plans to allow mixed development combining industrial, commercial and support functions.

This year's competition will be organized around three priorities: balanced regional growth, green transition, and improvements to worker safety and convenience.

To counter population decline and strengthen regional growth foundations, the ministry will apply the Ministry of Interior and Safety's "local preference index" to award bonus points during evaluation. The aim is to prioritize local governments that have a strong need for redevelopment but face financial or other constraints in advancing such projects.

The program will also support the installation of renewable energy facilities — including solar panels — during infrastructure expansion, promoting climate resilience and eco-friendly industrial zones. It will additionally fund road widening and new parking facilities to enable faster fire suppression at aging factories, and help create worker amenity spaces — including cafes, libraries, fitness facilities and cultural centers — within dedicated parking structures.

Proposals will be accepted from local governments through Nov. 24, after which an expert evaluation committee will review submissions and select the final three sites in December. Local governments wishing to participate may receive consulting from the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements when preparing their proposals.

"Redeveloping aging industrial complexes to meet the demands of a future industrial environment is a critical task for national transformation and balanced growth," said Park Ji-hong, director general of the ministry's Land and Urban Affairs Bureau. "We will work to comprehensively improve infrastructure and working conditions to stimulate corporate investment and innovation, and to drive regional growth."

Meanwhile, the ministry and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy last month designated three sites as new candidate zones under the Aging Core Industrial Complex Competitiveness Enhancement Program: the Jeju Advanced Science and Technology Complex, the Wanju General Industrial Complex in North Jeolla Province, and the Munmak General Industrial Complex in Wonju, Gangwon Province.