Gyeonggi Province to Build International Schools in Suwon and Bundang

Gyeonggi Province will build international schools in Suwon and Bundang by 2006 to attract foreign investment and to help domestic companies secure talented foreign workers.

In addition, the province will build 2.3 million square meter industrial complexes in Hwasung and Pyongtaek in advance in order to shorten the construction period. Sohn Hak-kyu, governor of Gyeonggi Province unveiled the plan during an interview with the Dong-A Ilbo.

International schools will be built at the request of Samsung whose plants are concentrated in Gyeonggi Province including Suwon. It is unusual to build schools at the request of a private company.

“Samsung asked for additional international schools since the children’s education is the main reason why foreigners hesitate to work in Korea,” said the Gyeonggi province.

Samsung hires as many as 300 foreign workers in Suwon alone, and it expects a tenfold increase in the number of foreign employees to maintain its competitiveness.

Moreover, Gyeonggi Province decided to build a one million square meter industrial complex in Hwasung by 2007 and a 1.3 million square meter one in Pyeongtaek by 2008 in order to promote the industrial clusters in southern Gyeonggi Province linking Suwon, Hwasung, and Pyongtaek by attracting high-tech industries such as electronics and semiconductors.

The province will also complete the Kiheung Tollgate expansion on the Gyeongbu Highway by next year to ease the traffic jam for Samsung employees during peak hours.

Jong sik Kong kong@donga.com