The Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) has determined that public institutions are eligible to move into public knowledge industry centers.

The BAI announced today (September 10) that it has provided a preliminary consulting opinion containing this conclusion to Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province.

According to the BAI, Gwangju is currently constructing a knowledge industry center in its downtown area but has been struggling to vitalize it due to a shortage of tenant demand.

In response, Gwangju considered allowing public institutions to move into the center to carry out tenant-support operations. However, the city faced difficulties in making a decision because the Industrial Cluster Act only stipulates eligible tenants as "businesses recognized by the mayor or county governor," lacking clear and specific boundaries.

Nevertheless, upon receiving a consulting request from Gwangju, the BAI concluded that "while the Ministry of Government Legislation previously interpreted eligible tenants as being limited to specific industries such as manufacturing given the past circumstances, related systems and regulatory environments have since improved, with the functions of centers expanding into complex spaces for business support and management ecosystems."

The BAI stated, "The public institutions under consideration perform tasks that support the growth of tenant businesses, which aligns with the purpose of establishing the center. Furthermore, public necessity is recognized as they contribute to regional industrial development through center revitalization and the concentration of business support functions." It added, "Allow their occupancy, but formulate appropriate post-management and supervision measures to ensure they are operated in accordance with their intended purpose."
(Photo provided by Board of Audit and Inspection, Yonhap News)