North Gyeongsang Province, Uiseong-gun launch region's first food-specialized industrial complex

North Gyeongsang Province's first food-specialized industrial complex will be built in Uiseong-gun.

North Gyeongsang Province, Uiseong-gun and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs held a "Future New Growth Industry Vision Declaration" ceremony at the Uiseong Bio Food Valley on Friday, marking the completion of the province's first food-specialized industrial complex and signing investment MOUs with two companies.

About 500 people attended the ceremony, including North Gyeongsang Province Deputy Governor for Economy Yang Geum-hee, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Food Industry Policy Director Jeong Gyeong-seok, Uiseong-gun Mayor Choi Yu-cheol, National Assembly member Park Hyeong-su, provincial assembly members, and representatives from food and food-tech companies.

According to North Gyeongsang Province and Uiseong-gun, the Uiseong Bio Food Valley — to be developed in Cheolpa-ri, Uiseong-gun — is a food-specialized industrial complex spanning 225,844 square meters that will support companies' technology development and demonstration activities.

The complex will house a work-life balance cultural center with 50 dormitory rooms and a cell-cultured food tech research support center, providing comprehensive support from worker housing to corporate technology development and product commercialization.

North Gyeongsang Province and Uiseong-gun also signed investment MOUs with Seaweed and Ogerae Agricultural Corporation on Friday.

Seaweed will invest 20 billion won ($14.9 million) to build a cell-cultured food production facility by 2030 and hire 46 new employees.

The company plans to establish a Good Manufacturing Practice production system with an annual capacity of 400 tons next year, then expand its production and logistics facilities from 2028 onward to create an export hub capable of handling 1,200 tons annually.

Ogerae Agricultural Corporation will invest 25.5 billion won to build a new protein food manufacturing factory by 2030 and hire 37 new employees. The company plans to construct a third factory of about 18,000 square meters within the complex and relocate and consolidate its existing first and second factories in Seongju by next year.

North Gyeongsang Province said it is reviewing regional investment promotion subsidies for both companies and will provide administrative support for their move-in to the food tech research support center.

After the area covering Cheolpa-ri, Wondang-ri and Palseong-ri in Uiseong-gun was designated a regulatory-free zone for cell-cultured food in 2024, the province has been working toward securing livestock-derived cell supplies, demonstrating product commercialization, improving related regulations and building dedicated infrastructure — all to be completed by 2028.

"The establishment of the industrial complex foundation is highly significant in that it has created a new growth base to lead Uiseong's future industries," Uiseong-gun Mayor Choi said. "We will work hard to support businesses and expand the industrial foundation, and prepare Uiseong for the next 100 years centered on biotech and food tech."

North Gyeongsang Province Deputy Governor Yang said the Uiseong Future New Growth Industry Vision Declaration "will serve as an important milestone in broadening the horizon of South Korea's future food industry."