• Journal of Urban Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2018

Abstract: Korea has designated free economic zones to build the foundation for national economic development by setting up special economic zones to be more competitive in cities. On August 5, 2003, the government designated Songdo, Yeongjong and Cheongna districts in Incheon as free economic zones. But while the development should have been completed nearly three years before the end of the development, the development has been slow and the population, foreign direct investment and other business results are far from the initial plan. Therefore, in this study, we will investigate the various problems occurring in the Incheon Free Economic Zone, investigate the causes of the problem, and then compare and analyze the Incheon Free Economic Zone and China's special economic zones. The two institutions share similar characteristics in many areas, but the Incheon Free Economic Zone system has yet to be settled, as the special economic zone has played a significant role in economic development in China. Therefore, the study is expected to find a solution to the problems of the free economic zones in Incheon and provide directions for future development.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.86-97
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• 2014

Incheon Free Economic Zone is the first free economic zone specified in 2003 in Korea. Previous research on the Free Economic Zone has focused on the activation of the free economic zone or foreign investment issue at the level of the national economic plan. Related to the development of a free economic zone, studies are currently insufficient on the relevance of the local economy, the development of linkages with hinterland, and the balanced regional development. Therefore, this study tried to investigate the impact of Incheon Free Economic Zone to the local economy through analyzing the causes and characteristics of the imbalance between the regions in Incheon by comparing before (1996~2002) and after (2003~2009) of the Incheon Free Economic Zone legislation (2003). The result shows that development of the free economic zone has not been connected to the local economy activation and the ripple effect on the old town in Incheon. Further, the construction of a large apartment and infrastructure in the free economic zones have increased the disparity between the free zones and the old town.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.387-407
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to substantially survey the satisfaction of resident companies in Incheon Free Economic Zone to improve the investment environment of Incheon Free Economic Zone to attract more resident companies. This study implies that additional industrial lots should be secured and the restrictions against small/medium companies should be alleviated so they can grow into strong companies considering that the resident companies in Incheon Free Economic Zone are highly satisfied with their business in Incheon Free Economic Zone. As resident companies' satisfaction with administrative support, recruitment, and industrial infrastructure is low, Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority should understand and improve the specific complaints of resident companies.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.91-96
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• 2010

Incheon Free Economic Zone's Songdo Area is a newly constructed city built on land reclaimed from the seaside and the surrounding area. Yeongjong Area is made after Land reclamation between Yeongjong Island and Yongyou Island began in November 1992. The first phase linking these islands to create the Incheon International Airport (phase 1) and the Airport Town Square community was finished in March 2001. However, if we take a look at the overall status of the project as it is carried on at present, it is hard to deny that the project is trapped inside the same legal restrictions as are all other existing cities, which permits Songdo Area and Yeongjong Area to meet only very minimum standards. This study intends to analyze and assess the Incheon Free Economic Zone's Songdo Area and Yeongjong Area of environmentally friendly construction and to rate its current development status, exposing any problems and offering alternative solutions. In this paper, the current state of constructions in Songdo Area and Yeongjong Area were reviewed. Then a quantitative analysis and assessment for the Songdo Area and Yeongjong Area constructions of apartments, complex buildings, office buildings, school facilities, store and hotel facilities were conducted by using green building certification criteria. Finally the synthetic results of environmental performance evaluation for Incheon Free Economic Zone's Songdo Area and Yeongjong Area constructions and follow-up suggestions were described.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.121-145
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• 2008

Northeast Asia is increasingly making a transition to distinctive and crucial region in the 21st Century and growing into one of world's top three economic spheres along with the EU and NAFTA. In 2003, Korean government announced the Northeast Asian economic hub country plan as an important agenda. As a means of coping with the changing global environment, Korean government designated Incheon in 2003 as the country's first Free Economic Zone ahead of Busan and Gwangyang Bay in the south of the country because Incheon has a geographical advantage linking North America and Europe with Incheon International Airport and Incheon Seaport. The purpose of this paper is to make research on establishment and operation of an arbitral body entitled ${\ulcorner}International Arbitration Center{\lrcorner}$ (IAC) within Incheon Free Economic Zone(IFEZ). For the purpose of this, the writer in this paper, reviewed the necessity of the IAC's establishment and its legal basis as well as the role and function of the Center. Also, the writer presented plans for how to operate the IAC and how to cooperate with the key arbitral organizations of foreign countries for the settlement promotion of commercial disputes including trade and investment. With development of the IFEZ, world-renowned enterprises will invest in the Incheon economic bloc and conduct economic activities, business operation, marketing, logistics, financing, etc. In this connection, diverse types of commercial disputes are expected to occur between foreign companies entering the IFEZ and Korean firms. In this connection, the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board(KCAB) has been operating its liaison office in the IFEZ since 2004. However, in view of the increasing arbitration demand, the IAC should be set up in the IFEZ in the near future by the positive support of the government in the respect of both administration and finance because the free economic zone-related law provides for the installation of arbitration organization. For the success of the IAC, the Center will have to provide not only good quality of arbitral services that can satisfy arbitration parties but also need to conduct researches and make efforts so that arbitration can be utilized well in the IFEZ. If the IFEZ can provide advantageous business environments to those multinational enterprises intending to the Incheon economic bloc, the IAC will also contribute to the settlement of commercial disputes arising from the Gaeseong Industrial Complex in North Korea in view of the geographical advantage and logistic benefit of the IFEZ. Finally, this paper also suggests a new model for a joint dispute resolution system by the initiative of Korean government and Korean arbitral organizations for the settlement of commercial disputes within Northeast Asia, for which the CAMCA(Commercial Arbitration and Mediation Center for the Americas) of NAFTA can be a good example.

• Journal of Urban Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.61-70
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• 2018

Incheon, South Korea, is a rapidly growing port city that has long held an important role in the country. While for most of its history it has been considered more of a coastal extension of Seoul, it is now trying to grow from that role and become a global city. National and local initiatives and acts have led to the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ). This large zone connects three smaller districts into one large project. The goal of the project is to assert Incheon as its own city and go beyond its role as merely a gateway to Seoul. However, as most large-scale projects go, there are multiple issues and constraints faced by the IFEZ. This paper analyzes the project and gives critique on how the project could possibly achieve its goal more quickly.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.123-140
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• 2004

With the globalization of economy, there is keen competition among rountries to be a logistics hub and companies are striving to be first in establishing logistics system centering on advantageous sites, especially airport and seaports, to perform supply, production and distribution. Korea competing with Northeast Asia countries is also working out strategies in order to make Korea peninsula a logistics center of Northeast Asia taking advantage of its geographical strength. Gwangyang port has designated as Free Economic Zone together with Pusan and Jinhae, Incheon from October 24th, 2003. However, the introduction of Free Economic Zone in Korea lagged behind other major countries and it has a lot of operational problems. Approximately 600 areas worldwide are designated and operated as a Free Economic Zone and Gwangyang port and its surrounding area has several points to be settled as one of FEZ. First one is its limited functions and related laws. Next is imperfection on development, investment and management system of the hinterland. Lark of promotion activities could be one of the problems. This paper analyzes the above problems and presents various measures to activate Gwangyang Port and Gwangyang Free Economic Zone as follows Benchmarking to promote Gwangyang Free Economic Zone as follows Benchmarking other countries' system, governmental support, introduction & logistics functions, early development of the hinterland, supply of effective one-stop service, investment attraction into the area and diversified promotion & marketing activities.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.111-132
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• 2005

With the globalization of economy, there is keen competition among countries to be a logistics hub and companies are striving to be first in establishing logistics system centering on advantageous sites, especially airport and seaports, to perform supply, production and distribution. Korea competing with Northeast Asia countries is also working out strategies in order to make Korea penninsula a logistics center of Northeast Asia taking advantage of its geographical strength. Gwangyang port has designated as Free Economic Zone together with Pusan and Jinhae, Incheon from October 24th, 2003. However, the introduction of Free Economic Zone in Korea lagged behind other major countries and it has a lot of operational problems. Approximately 600 areas worldwide are designated and operated as a Free Economic Zone and Gwangyang port and its surrounding area has several points to be settled as one of FEZ. First one is its limited functions and related laws on Gwangyang Bay. Next is imperfection on development, investment and management system of the FEZ. Lack of promotion activities could be one of the problems. If we want to activate the FEZ, we must induce investment at Gwangyang Bay. This paper analyzes the above problems and presents various measures to activate Gwangyang Free Economic Zone by inducing investment for innovation cluster as follows Benchmarking to promote Gwangyang Free Economic Zone as follows Benchmarking other countries' system, governmental support, introduction & logistics functions, early development of the hinterland, supply ofeffective one-stop service, investment attraction into the area and diversified promotion & marketing activities.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.107-120
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• 2015

This study analyzes Korea's Free Economic Zone (FEZ), by particularly focusing on Incheon and Busan-Jinhae zones, using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method and a questionnaire survey analysis. The study compares important selection criteria and satisfaction of resident companies in Incheon and Busan-Jinhae FEZs. The findings are as follows. First, the AHP method results suggest that companies in both Incheon and Busan-Jinhae FEZs are affected by location, economic society, and policy. In subordinate determining factor for land, it is ordered by ease of gaining land, inexpensive rental fee in Incheon and by convenient access to close markets and inexpensive rental fee in Busan-Jinhae. Second, the questionnaire survey results suggest high adjacent market size and easy access in Incheon FEZ and sound logistics infrastructure in Busan-Jinhae FEZ. For this reason, Incheon has a high value of logistics infrastructure and potential market near metropolitan area and Busan-Jinhae, has a high value of transportation Infrastructure near industrial district. These findings will contribute to policy data for activating and promoting the Free Economic Zone.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.183-204
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• 2001

This study is intended for the development of urgent facing strategies for the designation of a CFZ(Customs Free Zone) in Incheon city. First, it analyzes the current status of the Incheon CFZ. Next, it suggests several strategies for successfully growing the CFZ of Incheon City. Finally, it develops and proposes a method for establishing an integrated management system for the effective management of the CFZ. The key findings of this study are as follows: First, the CFZ should provide state-of-the-art movement of port logistics, create new added value caused by the movement of logistics, and provide other public support. The Incheon CFZ should be developed in three stages: an inducement stage in 2002-2005, a growth stage in 2005-2008, and an implementation stage in 2008-2011. Second, The parties responsible for the management of the CFZ would be as follows: for the port area, the Ministry of Maritime and Fisheries; for the back space of CFZ, Incheon City; and for port management, port management companies. However, a committee for CFZ management is strongly suggested for the improved efficiency and effectiveness of CFZ management. Furthermore, additional regulations ensuring the role of local government will likely be necessary for the sucessful designation and sustainable management of the CFZ. Third, For the creation of additional revenue, reformation of the current laws of the CFZ are recommended in the area of business administration. Fourth, A strategic marketing plan that supports the successful management of the companies of the CFZ will be a key component in the success of the CFZ. Thus, the new marketing plan should be developed in the near future based on case studies of other CFZs. Fifth A method for an integrated CFZ management system was developed and suggested for the comprehensive and transparent management of port logistics.