Korean government established its foundation of industrial growth by constructing more than 900 industrial complexes across the country, beginning with Ulsan industrial center in 1962. Industrial parks, especially national industrial complexes, contributed to the growth of economy. However, it is noteworthy that paradigm shift of development of national industrial complexes is required due to the introduction of knowledge-based economy.
With respect to accomplishments and issues of national industrial complexes, first, national industrial estates made great contribution to national economy growth. Considering the growing needs for promoting new industries such as knowledge-based industry, industrial complexes should maintain its main role, and furthermore development of new national industrial parks is required. Second, existing national industrial complexes declined in importance. A great breakthrough in strengthening competitiveness of existing national industrial complexes is required. Third, national industrial complexes are growing less and less, which means establishing a policy to facilitate development of small and medium-sized enterprises of knowledge-based industries. Last, the role of national industrial complexes should be maintained in order to fulfill the growing demand on industrial location for knowledge-based industries, in other words, a support for national industrial complexes is required.
Policy alternatives for the national industrial complexes are as follows: first, the maintenance of industrial parks system, second, revision of conceptual model of national industrial complexes, third, assigning the roles of a strategic position for key national industries, fourth, rational development of new national industrial complexes, fifth, support expansion of development of industrial complexes, sixth, regeneration of old industrial complexes, and last, environment-friendly management and development of national industrial complexes.