Invest Korea

An industrial complex is an area designated and developed under a comprehensive plan to collectively set up industrial facilities and support facilities for workers and users. Complexes offer conveniences by assisting companies in securing factory sites, finding partners and talent through clustering, and efficiently supplying raw materials and parts. Recently, industrial complexes have aimed at mixed-use development, by linking industry-academia-research institutes and connecting and arranging various supporting facilities.

Types of industrial complexes vary depending on the purpose of development. The business category management in relation to factory establishment is different from that of individual sites. First, acceptable business categories differ among industrial complexes, even if the candidates are all manufacturers. Operation and management rules may vary among different complexes; for example, industrial complexes, foreign investment zones (complex type), and national food clusters are managed under a basic management plan, while the Free Economic Zone, the Saemangeum zone, and the INNOPOLIS follow respective regulations. In the case of the Free Trade Zone, the Act on Designation and Management of Free Trade Zones defines the requirements for occupancy.

An individual location refers to all areas except those specially designated or developed. If a company purchases or leases land outside of an industrial complex or a building in an urban or residential area, it can directly acquire the authorization and permission for altering usage and establish a factory.

If a company selects an individual location for the purpose of manufacturing, it can move into a factory or Type II neighborhood lifestyle facility (manufacturing establishment) prescribed by the Enforcement Decree of the Building Act. Land across the country, however, has special-purpose areas designated under the National Land Planning and Utilization Act. As a result, a company that plans to construct a new building must first check the use of buildings and restrictions on special-purpose areas prescribed by the National Land Planning and Utilization Act and local government ordinances. If a targeted area prohibits factory establishment, it can be changed to a special-purpose area by altering the urban or country management plan. This process, however, should go through deliberation by the Urban Planning Committee. Check the Standards for Factory Location or the Enforcement Decree of the National Land Planning and Utilization for the types of business allowed per special-purpose area.