Jeju Free International City Development Center (JDC) is expanding Jeju's education and industry base with the English education city and the high-tech science and technology complex. The four international schools in the English education city have 4,144 students, and corporations in the high-tech science and technology complex posted revenue of 874.1 billion won last year. A fifth international school and phase two of the high-tech science and technology complex are also set to open in 2028.
By contrast, revenue at JDC's main revenue source, its designated duty-free shop, fell about 40% in three years. Normalizing projects such as the Jeju Healthcare Town and the Yerae resort-style residential complex, where construction has been halted for an extended period, is another task JDC must address.
On the 27th, at Branksome Hall Asia (BHA) international school in Seogwipo, Jeju, students in green uniforms were debating in English over design models made with a 3D printer. On the school's ice rink, students were in the thick of hockey practice. The school said its educational goal is to foster creativity and collaboration skills by running cultural and sports activities alongside college admissions preparation.
The Jeju English education city where BHA is located was created to redirect demand for early overseas study back to Korea. Currently, four schools—BHA, NLCS Jeju, SJA Jeju, and KIS Jeju—have 4,144 students enrolled.
In Apr., construction began on the fifth international school, Fulton Science Academy Atherton (FSAA). A science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) specialty school based in Georgia in the United States, it aims to open in the second half of 2028.
JDC estimates that operating the international schools has saved 158.28 billion won in study abroad balance so far. Cheon Gu, head of JDC's education and culture division, said, "Considering exchange rates and overseas living costs, the ability to complete an Anglophone curriculum domestically is the English education city's competitive edge."
JDC is a state-run company under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport launched in 2002 to build Jeju into a free international city. It is developing the English education city, the high-tech science and technology complex, the Healthcare Town, and the Myth and History Theme Park. This year's budget is 700.2 billion won.
A visit on the 28th to the Jeju High-tech Science and Technology Complex in Ara-dong, Jeju City, offered a glimpse of Jeju's changing industrial structure. Phase one, spanning about 1,099,000 square meters, houses corporations in information technology (IT), biotechnology (BT), and aerospace, including Kakao, ESTsoft, Jeju Semiconductor, and Perigee Aerospace.
As of the end of 2025, there are 193 corporations in residence, employing 3,701 people. Their annual revenue totaled 874.1 billion won, with exports reaching 261.1 billion won.
The innovation growth center "Route330" within the complex is nurturing startups in Autonomous Driving, electric vehicles, and future mobility by partnering with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) Center for Eco-Friendly Smart Vehicles and others.
JDC is also developing phase two of the high-tech science and technology complex across about 848,000 square meters in the nearby Wolpyeong-dong area. Completion is targeted for 2028. Phase two plans to attract corporations and public and private research institutes related to IT, BT, cultural content, and environmental engineering.
Park Young-ha, head of JDC's public relations and cooperation office, said, "In line with the government's 'five hubs and three specials' balanced growth policy, we are working with Jeju Province, KAIST, and others," and added, "We will consult with the central government so Jeju can become a base for the energy, biotech, and artificial intelligence industries."
Not all results are positive. Duty-free shop revenue rose to 658.5 billion won in 2022 during the COVID-19 period, but fell to 393.5 billion won in 2025 as overseas travel picked up again and Jeju saw fewer tourists. That is a drop of about 40% in three years. JDC is asking the government to ease restrictions on product categories and adjust purchase frequency and limits.
Another challenge is reviving development projects where construction has been suspended for a long time. At Jeju Healthcare Town, Greenland Jeju Healthcare Town Co., Ltd. pursued a 1 trillion won project but halted construction in 2017 due to a cash crunch and other issues. In June, JDC renewed a memorandum of understanding with Greenland Jeju on an asset transfer and is seeking to sign the main contract within the year.
At the Yerae resort-style residential complex, with the execution rate for additional land compensation topping 70%, a new master plan is being drawn up. Zone J of the Myth and History Theme Park, where full-fledged development had not progressed for more than 20 years, has shifted its plan from one centered on rides to a cultural park combining Jeju myths, nature, and digital art. JDC is aiming to break ground next year after securing permits.