The Evolving Roles of Korean Technoparks and their Futures: A Case of Gyeongbuk Technopark

This paper reviews the current transformation and evolutions of Korean technoparks, based on the case of Gyeongbuk Technopark. The second stage of Korean Technopark project has been underway and functioned as one of core means for regional technology innovation and economic development. Since 2003, Korean government set a new political agenda: nationwide balanced development through devolution and innovation. To deliver this agenda successfully, the government designated 8 existing and 8 additional technoparks as networking hubs of regional innovation agencies. Since then, the major characteristics of technoparks have drastically changed to act as a catalyst for regional economic development or revitalization. Thus, technoparks are being asked to transform themselves toward a regional development agency which endeavors to respond to regional key stakeholders' expectations to work as a regional innovative hub with regional uniqueness. Of course, technoparks should be more supported with mid-long term strategies and well prepared legal systems in both name and reality.