I. Purpose and basic direction of the report

Gangnam-gu is a representative high-income, high-tech district in South Korea, generating over 6% of the country's GDP.
Based on regional industry, investment, and employment data, this chapter proposes policy directions for simultaneously strengthening economic self-sufficiency and international competitiveness from a global perspective
. The ultimate goal is to establish economic governance that integrates industrial innovation, startups, investment attraction, and MICE linkages .
 

 

divisiondetail
Policy objectivesBuilding a Global Investment-Based Local Economy
Data rangeGRDP, industry, startups, employment, investment attraction, MICE, real estate, and consumption indicators
Expected effectSustainable growth, improved job quality, and revitalized public-private investment

 

II. Analysis Overview

Gangnam-gu's economic analysis follows a structure of "industrial base → startup ecosystem → investment, consumption, employment → global connectivity." MarketHub-based data, Seoul's regional economic statistics, and AI news sentiment data are combined to create a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative analysis model
of the local economy . This model will be automatically updated with future quarterly data updates, enabling real-time policy decisions.

Analysis itemsData sourceAnalysis method
Industry/GRDPSeoul Open Data, Statistics Korea, Seoul Business AgencyIndustrial concentration (LQ) and industrial interconnectedness
Employment and EntrepreneurshipJobplanet, K-Startup, and Ministry of SMEs and Startups dataTrends in the number of startups and youth employment rate
Investment and consumptionKRX, Real Estate Board, and Korea Tourism OrganizationImpact of investment funds, consumption index, and MICE
Emotions/IssuesNews, SNS, and policy dataΔSentiment·Trust Index

 

III. Summary of Macroeconomic and Industrial Trends in Gangnam-gu

Over the past three years, Gangnam-gu has achieved steady growth in the technology, content, healthcare, and service sectors, recording a GRDP growth rate exceeding the Seoul Metropolitan Government average. Its
concentration in AI, fintech, and biotech sectors is particularly high, offering significant potential for expansion into an international cooperation city.

sectorMajor changesevaluation
technology industryAI and fintech companies increase 38% over three years.high growth
Service and cultural industriesMICE and content consumption index rises 1.3 timesstructural growth
Real Estate/InvestmentGlobal capital inflow +12%Positive
employmentYouth employment rate increased by 5 percentage pointsStable
startupThe number of registered companies exceeds 2,900.Entering the diffuser

 

IV. Regional Industry Portfolio Diagnosis (LQ·Employment·Value Analysis)

Gangnam District's industrial structure centers around IT, finance, cultural content, and healthcare.
The IT and healthcare services sectors, with their high inter-industry linkages, play a central role in both employment and added value.

industryLQEmployment increase/decreaseValue Added (Index)analysis
IT/Fintech1.42+heightDigital economy center
Medical/Healthcare1.26+heightMedical cluster expansion in progress
Content/MICE1.18++slanderDirectly related to tourism and consumption
Education/R&D0.95+middleKnowledge-based growth
Manufacturing and distribution0.78-middle and lowerSpace efficiency limitations

 

V. Five Axis of Regional Growth Engines

Gangnam-gu's local economy is driven by five growth axes: digital services, innovative entrepreneurship, luxury consumption, knowledge industry, and ESG transition.
This aligns with the core patterns of urban economies attracting attention from global investors.

Growth axisMain areasPolicy linkage
① Digital industryAI, Fintech, and Data CenterSmart Tech Cluster
② Innovation and EntrepreneurshipStartup and scale-up supportG-Valley·K-Startup
③ Consumption/MICEShopping, tourism, and exhibition industriesSeoul MICE Week
④ Knowledge industryEducation, Consulting, and DesignKnowledge City
⑤ ESG transitionGreen Architecture and Circular EconomyUrban Green Code

 

VI. Investment Attraction and Business Attraction Strategy (PIPE Model)

In line with its glocalization strategy, Gangnam-gu must implement a hybrid attraction model that simultaneously attracts both foreign investment and domestic private capital.
The Pipeline–Incentive–Place–Execution (PIPE) structure is designed as an executable policy framework for this purpose.

stepdetailImplementation plan
Pipeline300 companies selected for global investmentAI-based scoring
IncentiveDetergent, Space, and R&D Package SupportPrivate-Seoul City Matching
Place-makingEstablishment of startup clusters and tech campusesCentered around the Tehran-ro axis
ExecutionIntegrated PMO Operation, Approval within 90 DaysAdministrative efficiency

 

Ⅶ. Building an Innovation and Startup Ecosystem

Gangnam-gu boasts the largest concentration of startups in the country, with a projected number of companies exceeding 2,900 by 2025.
Ensuring continuity across the startup, investment, and global expansion stages is a key challenge, and a public-private partnership fund system is essential.

divisionKey Contents
University/research institute linkageAI, data, and medical industry-academia projects
Fund structureCity/District Matching Seed Fund + Private Series A Bridge
Regulatory special zoneIT·Mobility Demonstration Hub (Seocho-Gangnam Link)
Global expansionJoint booths at overseas exhibitions such as CES and VivaTech
Ⅷ. Regional Economic Effects of Tourism and MICE Linkages

The MICE industry is a key growth engine for Gangnam-gu's service and consumer economy, driving consumption expansion centered on residential tourism and international events.

axisKey StrategiesKPI
Stay-type tourismLong-term accommodation and K-culture linkageIncrease in length of stay and unit price
MICE industryFour Seasons International Event CalendarNumber of events/participants
Korean Wave contentIP commercialization linked to global fandomBrand reach
Business TourismForeign company linkage packageInvestment consultation/return rate
Ⅸ. Infrastructure, Talent, and Housing Measures

Economic growth requires a combination of attracting talent and improving the residential environment.
Gangnam District maintains top-tier transportation, housing, and education infrastructure nationwide, and future housing policies geared toward attracting young people and global talent will be crucial.

itemKey Contents
trafficGTX/subway transfer hub, easy access to international airports
dwellingYouth and Startup Living Lab Rental Housing
TalentInnovation Education Center based on Reskilling and Upskilling
complex spaceExpansion of coworking spaces, startup cafes, and tech campuses

 

Ⅹ. Financial and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Model

Gangnam District's economic development strategy should pursue a Public-Private Partnership (PPP)
structure that blends public finance and private investment. By operating public and private funds in a performance-linked manner, both financial efficiency and project speed can be achieved.

structureexplanation
Local Industrial FundCity/district matching, technology/entrepreneurship focused
PPP methodA mix of private investment, policy finance, and performance-based subsidies
Key indicatorsEmployment induction coefficient, GRDP multiplier, tax effect
Ⅺ. Data-Driven KPI Dashboard (AI Auto-Refresh)

This indicator system is designed to regularly measure policy performance.
It is automatically updated quarterly, and AI analyzes sentiment, issues, and investment trends.

divisionKey indicatorsData source
economyGRDP YoY, investment, exports and importsStatistics Korea·MarketHub
employmentEmployment rate, youth employment rateJob Planet
StartupNumber of new corporations, PoC conversion rateMinistry of SMEs and Startups·K-Startup
Tourism/MICENumber of days of stay, number of eventsSeoul Tourism Foundation
ReliabilityTrust Index, ESG ScoreAI Loop Analysis

 

Ⅻ. Implementation Roadmap (2025-2028)

The phased implementation plan aims for balanced development of industry, entrepreneurship, investment, tourism, and the inclusive economy.

stepKey tasksAchievements
Stage 1 (2025)Establishing industrial guidance and investment pipelinesEconomic Data Map
Phase 2 (2026)Creation of a startup + MICE complex zoneInnovation Belt
Stage 3 (2027)Expanding the ESG and Digital ClusterSustainable Growth Ecosystem
Stage 4 (2028)Completion of the Glocal Economic Self-Reliance ModelGlobal Linked Reporting System
ⅩⅢ. Conclusion and Suggestions

Gangnam-gu is being redefined as a global hub city focused on AI, fintech, and content, transcending Seoul and becoming the economic heart of South Korea .
The core of its glocalization strategy is "industrial datafication + global investment linkage + citizen-inclusive economy."
A quarterly AI loop allows for real-time tracking of policy outcomes.
This will be a key step in Gangnam-gu's evolution from a "technology city" to an "inclusive economy."