IT in Korea
IT Geographics
Korea's Leading Research Complex: Daeduk Research
Complex.
In the early 1960's, Korean government began to establish
a series of the National Development Plans for economic development.
With helping from low labor cost, financial and technological supports
from foreign governments, Korea was able to accelerate developing national
economy. However, the government has realized the country need the
advanced technology and expertise to increase the competitiveness of domestic
product in the international market. As apart of the National Development
Plan, basic plan for the Daeduk Research Complex was drafted in January
1973. Currently, there are 51 R&D institutions, with 16,000
researchers, and 4 universities in Daeduk Research Complex. [74]
Most of them are for manufacturing, basic and advanced science research
institutes. Four research institutes, including Dacom, SK Telecom,
and KT Research Institute, are related to IT. The Daeduk Research
Complex is located in Taejon metropolitan area. The research complex
is located 150 Km from Seoul and 290 Km from Pusan. [75]
Fig 1. Location of the Daeduk Research
Complex.
Other Techno Parks (Research parks)
Whereas this type of research complex is called research
park, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy has decided to call
research park as techno park. After the success of operating
the Daeduk Research Complex, the government encourage the establishment
of techno parks. Currently, 30 additional techno parks are scheduled
to be built. However, some analysists said most of techno parks were
planned without careful consideration about supply of research labor and
other factors. Within the 30 techno park plans, 7 techno park
establishment plans were result from presidential candidate's campaign
promise. As a result, Kwang-ju technopark, which was newly built,
struggle to sale lots even though the government gives incentives to firms,
such as tax reduction/exemption, rental fee reduction, subsidy, and purchase
support.
This report was completed in December
1999 for the class
Impacts of National Information Technology
Environments on Business
taught in the program of the MOGIT
(Management of Global Information Technology)
at the
Kogod School of Business at American
University in Washington, D.C.
