From former subway depot to Seoul’s new ‘Bio-Heart’: The ambitious national project ‘S-DBC’ begins

[by Lee, Young Sung] The vast stretch of subway depots and driver's license testing grounds becomes strikingly apparent when viewed from the rooftop of the Nowon District Office in Seoul. This landscape, however, is poised for a major transformation. By 2031, the area will be redeveloped into a state-of-the-art bioindustry cluster. The planned ‘bio complex’ will encompass shared research facilities for biotech startups, headquarters for mid-sized and large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, medical institutions, a large-scale shopping mall, a cinema, and a range of other multifunctional cultural facilities.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government and Nowon District are advancing the ‘Seoul Digital Bio City (S-DBC)’ initiative in earnest. This massive project, which outlines a new future for Nowon, is expected to transcend conventional regional development and emerge as a new growth engine for Korea’s biotechnology industry. With the relocation of the Changdong Depot and Dobong Driver's License Testing Center now approaching, the vision of transforming this 75,000-pyeong (roughly 230,000 sq ft) tract of land into a next-generation bioindustry hub is becoming increasingly concrete. <THE BIO> spoke with Nowon District Mayor Oh Seung-rok to discuss the origins of the S-DBC vision and the district’s future development roadmap.

◇"Aiming to bring U.S. BioLabs to a Korean branch…Nowon poised to emerge as a new global biotechnology hub"

Nowon District is regarded as one of the few remaining large-scale development sites in Seoul, a key factor underlying its selection as the site for the S-DBC project.

Although Korea is home to multiple bio clusters, it remains challenging to identify one that serves as a definitive national hub. S-DBC aims to assume that role.

The first component of the plan is not merely to emulate the successful U.S. co-working wet lab model, ‘BioLabs,’ but to establish its Korean branch directly within the district. To this end, Mayor Oh previously visited BioLabs in the United States and met with its founder, Dr. Johannes Fruehauf, MD. PhD. In September of this year, Fruehauf visited the Nowon District Office, where discussion continued. He is also widely recognized as the founder of LabCentral, a prominent nonprofit laboratory incubator based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

"Our objective is to bring Johannes' entire BioLabs model to Korea. Although the final decision rests with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, it is improbable that Korea will be able to attract LabCentral, as it operates under the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts State Government. However, establishing a privately operated BioLabs facility appears to be a realistic possibility," Oh remarked.

He further noted that S-DBC is envisioned not merely as a ‘space’ where companies congregate, but as a comprehensive ‘complex’ designed to support integrated daily life.

"S-DBC will integrate not only research institutes and enterprises but also hospitals, universities, cultural venues, and residential facilities within a 10 km radius. Furthermore, developing the site through new land sales, rather than repurposing existing structures, will significantly enhance its competitiveness," Oh emphasized.

◇"Boston became the world’s No. 1 bio cluster in just 10 years... Seoul and Nowon District must jointly build the right 'operating system' to follow that path"

Oh placed particular emphasis on the exemplary success of the Boston Bio Cluster.

"Boston was not even ranked as a bio cluster fifteen years ago, but in 2008, Governor Deval Patrick enacted supportive legislation, and in a decade it had emerged as the world's No. 1 bio city," he emphasized. "He invested KRW 1 trillion (approximately USD 681.1 million), KRW 100 billion annually, over 10 years. That level of support led to the creation of LabCentral. Even with institutions like MIT and Harvard, it was government investment that allowed them to reach the top position."

He underscored the necessity of establishing an organization jointly operated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Nowon District, and the private sector.

"An operating body is required that extends beyond the basic management of physical infrastructure. It must facilitate networking among resident companies and link domestic biotechnology institutions with major global pharmaceutical firms. I intend to put this proposal forward to the Seoul Metropolitan Government," Oh said.

◇"Nowon District is nearly 80% residential... Jobs and industrial complexes are essential"

Oh articulated a clear stance regarding the necessity for Nowon District to serve as the central locus of the S-DBC initiative.

"The Changdong Depot and the Dobong Driver's License Testing Center together occupy roughly 75,000 pyeong (about 248,000 square meters), and their relocation has long been urgent. Although nearly 80% of Nowon District consists of apartment complexes, residents often spend two hours commuting because of the district’s distance from major employment centers," he explained.

"The foundation of this project lies in relocating these facilities to the outskirts and establishing an employment-centered complex in their place. The depot is scheduled to be moved to Jinjeop in Gyeonggi Province next year, and discussions with the relevant authorities regarding the relocation of the driver's license testing center are currently underway," he further commented.

◇"Future jobs? Automobiles and semiconductors matter, but biotechnology is our competitive strength"

The rationale behind selecting biotechnology as the core focus of the S-DBC initiative was likewise clear.

"Automobiles, semiconductors, and biotechnology were identified as the industries with the highest job-creation potential. To compete with existing clusters, we needed a distinctive focal point," Oh explained. "Biotechnology is not a smokestack industry, and we viewed it as a strategic advantage because it aligns well with Seoul's existing talent base and research infrastructure."

Consequently, in coordination with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, a final decision was reached to develop the area into a ‘bio-dedicated industrial complex.’

"The Seoul Metropolitan Government intends to designate this site as an industrial complex by September 2026. This designation will enable the provision of land at cost prices and allow us to take advantage of associated tax incentives," Oh emphasized.

Demolition work of the site is slated to commence in the second half of 2026, with the area expected to be cleared to ‘bare land’ status by the end of 2027. "During this period, we will need to determine which companies, hospitals, research institutions, and commercial facilities will occupy the site. If design and construction begin in 2029, the complex could be completed and fully operational by 2031," Oh remarked.

Oh asserted that S-DBC represents more than a conventional development initiative; rather, it stands to serve as a ‘national turning point.’

He affirmed his commitment by saying, "The future of Nowon hinges on this project, and the future of the Republic of Korea does as well." Adding, "We will build a genuine digital BioCity that will significantly advance our country's bioindustry."