Introduction to Pyeongtaek City: The Port City

What's going on in Pyeongtaek City? If you'd like to know more about this interesting, and dynamic city in South Korea, check out this article.

Pyeongtaek City is located in southwestern Gyeonggi Province and lies adjacent to the Yellow Sea as well as the cities of Asan and Cheonan in South Chungcheong Province. The name ‘Pyeongtaek’ means flat pond and perfectly describes the terrain of the area since there are no high mountains; it received this name in 940 during the Goryeo Dynasty. Pyeongtaek was elevated to city status in 1986 and is home to a South Korean naval base as well as a large United States military presence.

As mentioned above, the city is home to the largest United States military facility in Korea (Camp Humphreys) as well as a large trading hub, Pyeongtaek Port, which has resulted in Pyeongtaek having one of the highest concentrations of foreign residents in the nation (39,835 out of the city’s total population of 521,172 are non-Korean). Altogether, the total population has been steadily increasing, making Pyeongtaek the 10th most populous city in Gyeonggi Province.

Pyeongtaek City is famous for its hamburger restaurants. These restaurants first started operating to sell burgers to United States military personnel. In April of 1982, Mr. Kim Jeong-su started selling burgers at a small stand; this was the origin of the famous Songtan hamburger. There are five historic burger restaurants introduced on the tourism website of Pyeongtaek City.

Sunset of Pyeongtaekho Lake
ⓒGyeonggi Province

Current Policy and Industry

Gyeonggi Free Economic Zone, GGFEZ (formerly YESFEZ)

The Gyeonggi Free Economic Zone (GGFEZ), located at the center of the West Coast Economic Belt, consists of three districts: the Pyeongtaek-Poseung (BIX) District for high-tech, logistics, and distribution industries; the Hyeondeok District; and the Siheung-Baegot District for the research and development of unmanned land/sea/air vehicles.

Major advantages of the GGFEZ are:

1. Largest knowledge-based manufacturing cluster in Korea

• GGFEZ features a manufacturing cluster in which Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor, Kia Motors and LG Display are located.

• More than 300 global conglomerates are located in the area including 3M, Siemens, Sony and Bosch.

• The area’s IT, semiconductor, mechatronics and components industries account for about 40 percent of Korea’s knowledge-based manufacturing.

2. A forward base for exports to China and Northeast Asia

• GGFEZ offers immediate access to the industrial belt on China’s coast.

• It is close to Pyeongtaek Port, currently equipped with 62 berths, which is directly connected to major ports in China and Japan.

• The number of berths at Pyeongtaek Port will be increased to 79.

• Pyeongtaek Port has exclusive docks for automobile, steel and container ships. It can also handle international passenger ships on a continuous basis.

3. Excellent proximity and investment environment

• GGFEZ is connected to major highways and high speed railways.

• Incheon International Airport and Chungju Airport are within a two-hour flight of major Northeast Asian cities.

• It is near the enormous market and rich human resources of the Seoul-Gyeonggi-Incheon metropolitan area.

4. Korea-China Business Valley

• GGFEZ is developing the area as a hub for exchanges with China in commerce, tourism, medical services and housing through Chinese capital investments.

• It offers multi-purpose facilities for international business, vacations and culture.

Pyeongtaek International Central Market
ⓒGyeonggi Province

Foreign resident support

As the number of foreigners living in Pyeongtaek City increases, the need for related support services has also increased. In order to meet this growing demand, Pyeongtaek City continues to develop a comprehensive living support system so that foreigners residing in the region can establish themselves in the community. The city has been operating the Pyeongtaek Foreigner Counseling Center since March 2020. This center helps foreigners living in Pyeongtaek smoothly adapt to local life by resolving difficulties they face and providing information they need. 

Latest News and Action Plan for 2021

Hydrogen Transportation Complex Base Project

Pyeongtaek City recently announced that it was selected as the site for the "Hydrogen Transportation Complex Base Project" undertaken by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The city is now one step closer to its goal of becoming "Korea's leading hydrogen-powered city." This complex will serve as a hydrogen-friendly hub that incorporates vehicle maintenance, convenience facilities, parking lots, and other auxiliary facilities along with hydrogen-charging facilities. A budget of KRW 16 billion will be allocated for this project.

Pyeongtaek Brain City Perspective
ⓒGyeonggi Province

Medical industry improvements

The agenda for deliberation of changes to industrial complex plans, which include the comprehensive medical facility site in the Brain City General Industrial Complex in Pyeongtaek City, was approved on the 23rd of October 2020. 

Accordingly, the city is plans to create a complex cluster for the development of medical, bio and healthcare industries.

The medical complex cluster will encompass approximately 82,000 square meters, including 40,000 square meters for comprehensive medical facility sites and industrial facility sites focused on research and development.