제주평화연구원

 

Development of A Water Education Hub in Northeast Asia

The plan to develop Jeju Island as a water education hub in Northeast Asia originated from the project to establish the Water Science Park. This project was later modified as to erect an industrial complex to produce high value-added products by using lava seawater.

Unlike ordinary seawater, lava seawater is pollutants-free, clean water available perennially, as it is not exposed to the atmosphere. To systematically develop the lava seawater resources as a new growth engine of Jeju Island, an industrial complex was designated in December 2009. With Jeju Province Development Co. in charge of the project, the construction of the industrial complex began in Handong-ri, Iljudongno, Gujwa-eup of Jeju City in September 2011 and was completed in December 2014. Of the 14 lots (126,705 m²) constituting the industrial complex, 11 lots (83,398 m²) were rented out to business firms now in operation.

Meanwhile, Jeju Technopark, the think tank of the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, is playing a leading role in enriching the Jeju economy by extending technological assistance, producing an industrial workforce, creating new businesses and advising businesses on marketing. A concrete example of its role is the establishment of the “Lava Seawater Commercialization Support Center,” which was advanced as part of the initiative of the Ministry of the Knowledge Economy from 2008 until 2013 to promote the strategic industries of local communities (the project to lay the foundation for the local community-based industries). Jeju Technopark also established the lava seawater processing system to conduct research on stability, cleanliness, safety and functionality of lava seawater and made nine applications for patents (five were registered as patents) and 29 applications for trademarks (15 were registered as trademarks), and additionally developed prototypes of lava seawater products. Jeju Tehnopark is promoting the growth of relevant industries through research and development of industrial materials and products using lava seawater with the aim of revitalizing and restructuring the local economy. The project to commercialize and use lava seawater for multi-purposes is expected to achieve economies of scale and produce cluster effects.