The Nowon District of Seoul participated in the world's largest bio fair, the '2025 Bio International Convention (BioUSA),' held in Boston, USA. Oh Seung-rok, the head of Nowon District, met with reporters on the 16th (local time) at the BioUSA venue and noted, 'I came to attract corporations to participate in the Seoul Digital Biocity (S-DBC) project in Nowon District.'
The S-DBC project aims to create a bio-centered, high value-added industrial complex on the site of the Changdong vehicle depot and the Dobong driver’s license examination center in Nowon District, thereby establishing an economic foundation in the northeastern part of the metropolitan area. The site area of the project spans approximately 250,000 square meters and is considered a major development initiative in the northern part of Seoul.
Oh, the district chief, stated, 'Currently, the Seoul Metropolitan Government is not only implementing procedures to develop this area into an industrial complex but also has begun efforts to specify plans for establishing a Seoul-type open lab.' He explained, 'We have been discussing plans to cultivate Nowon District as a bio-industrial complex with the Seoul city government, which is a core project of the 'Golden Age of Gangbuk' plan announced last year by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon.'
According to the Seoul city support plan, corporations will receive support such as land supplied at the level of development costs, tax benefits, and the establishment of long-term lease complexes of up to 50 years aimed at startups and small and medium-sized enterprises.
Oh emphasized the geographical advantages of Nowon District for corporate activities. He said, 'There's a strong tendency among young people to avoid working in non-metropolitan areas, but being in Seoul could help bio corporations secure talent.' He also pointed out that the GTX-C line improves accessibility to Gangnam and the southern metropolitan area via Changdong Station, and that it is possible to reach Incheon Airport within an hour through the metropolitan expressway.
Oh stated, 'During this BioUSA, we plan to meet with outstanding domestic and international corporations and learn about successful strategies for the bio-industrial complex,' adding, 'We aim to successfully advance the S-DBC project.' He will conduct business attraction activities in collaboration with a delegation composed of relevant institutions such as the city, district, and Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation (SH), meeting with various domestic and international corporations and organizations, including CEO Yohannes of Lab Central, and visiting successful cases of the Boston bio-cluster during the event.