경제자유구역 투자기업의 입주 만족도 영향 요인에 관한 연구

Abstract

A Study on the factors influencing the Satisfaction of the companies investing in Free Economic Zones

Hong Soo Eem

Department of International Trade and Logistics, The Graduate School Pukyong National University

Abstract As the proportion of free economic zones in the local economy has grown, local governments have applied to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to designate their jurisdictional areas or industrial complexes as free economic zones. It can be understood that the influence of the Free Economic Zone on the local industry is that great, but in reality, the limit is not small. In terms of the free economic zone itself, it is meaningful as a means to attract foreign capital and revitalize the economy. However, there is a need to reduce the side effects caused by overlapping and increase in various special economic zones and to study how investment companies perceive the occupancy environment in response to changes in the environment surrounding investment companies. Therefore, in order to analyze factors related to the satisfaction of living environment within the free economic zone, 7 out of 9 free economic zones, excluding Gwangju and Ulsan, which were opened in 2021, Incheon, Busanjinhae, Gwangyang Bay, Gyeonggi, Daegu and Gyeongbuk, East Coast, and Chungbuk. A survey was conducted on the free economic zones of each region. 247 companies that said they would cooperate with the survey were surveyed using Naver form, and 147 of the recovered questionnaires were analyzed excluding 4 insincere ones out of 151. The study results are as follows. First, the import/export support policy among the resident environments in the free economic zone showed significant results in all three dependent variables: satisfaction with the occupancy environment, intention to maintain occupancy, and contribution to sales. It can be seen that the benefit of being exempted from customs duties for 5 years on imported goods of existing resident companies had a significant impact. This study can be seen as a research result that matches the fundamental purpose of the establishment of a free economic zone to attract foreign-invested companies and to revitalize imports and exports. Second, the living environment also showed significant analysis results for all three dependent variables. This is a factor that tenant companies must consider when selecting a location for a living environment that allows for an influx of excellent labor force. In particular, for foreign-invested companies, it can be said that the requirement for stable settlement of workers is a very important and essential factor. Third, the analysis results showed that the degree of infrastructure development was significant only for two dependent variables: satisfaction with the occupancy environment and intention to maintain occupancy. It is said that the degree of development of information and communication, transportation, and distribution infrastructure is a factor that increases the satisfaction of resident companies. It can be considered that the free economic zone was created by linking existing cities and industrial complexes. In other words, the existing cities and industrial complexes were urbanized and industrialized as industries and manpower were accumulated, and since infrastructure and living environments were maintained, it can be seen that the free economic zones associated with them were also affected. From the point of view of the government and local governments, import/export support policies and living environment were found to be important factors influencing the satisfaction of moving into a free economic zone. In particular, the importance of the export/import support policy can be said to be the result of a study in line with the purpose of establishing a free economic zone. However, the fact that the living environment appeared as a very important factor has another meaning. Of course, the importance of the living environment cannot be excluded from the occupancy satisfaction of the free economic zone, but the fundamental purpose of the free economic zone is changed and the living environment such as education and culture has an important influence on the satisfaction of resident companies after the construction of a new apartment building. It is a result to be concerned about whether or not there is.