Editor's note: Jeju, South Korea's southernmost island, is well-known for its picturesque landsacpe and is the only place worldwide to receive all three honors granted by UNESCO - for Biosphere in 2002, Natural World Heritage site in 2007 and nine Geoparks in 2010.

Located in the heart of Northeast Asia, the island was also proclaimed one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature in December 2011.

Jeju Free International City Development Center, known as JDC, is a State-owned company established under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport with the mission of making Jeju a free international city like Hong Kong and Singapore.

Celebrating JDC's 10th anniversary last year, a number of projects are well on track building the free international city. China Daily had an interview with JDC Chairman Byon Jong-il to find out what's attracting Chinese tourists and investors to Jeju.

What has prompted changes in Jeju in recent years?

As much for its scenic nature, Jeju was well known for "three have-nots" - no thieves, no beggars and no gates. However, it is now more famous for "three haves" - education, healthcare and tourism. JDC has been the driving force behind the changes.

To make Jeju an educational hub in Northeast Asia, in 2011 JDC launched NLCS Jeju, the campus of NLCS - a prestigious UK school - followed by Branksome Hall Asia in October 2012, the first overseas campus of Canada-based Branksome Hall, all under the Jeju Global Education City project.

As well, the final agreement with St. Johnsbury Academy, a US-based school, was concluded with the aim of opening in September 2015.

At the same time, to offer advanced healthcare services, Jeju Healthcare Town, a combination of recreation and medical services, concluded a $1 billion investment deal with Shanghai-based Greenland Group in 2012.

Jeju was also named among the top three favorite overseas resort islands along with Hawaii and the Maldives in a 2010 survey by Chinese media.

I believe that with JDC's support and investment from China, Japan and Malaysia, Jeju will grow into a premium free international city and hub for the "three haves" in Northeast Asia.

Do Chinese companies seem interested in JDC's projects?

To name one, the largest property developer in Anhui province, Landing Investment Group, signed a memorandum of agreement with JDC to develop an all-season resort complex for the Myths and History Theme Park on April 12.

Under the agreement, Landing Investment will invest $800 million and develop theme zones, amusement facilities and a resort reflecting Jeju's unique myths and history in Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo, Jeju.

Moreover, Greenland Group, the largest real estate developer in Shanghai, selected Jeju as its first overseas investment destination and agreed to invest $1 billion in Jeju Healthcare Town in July 2012.

Greenland Group will build a medical R&D center, recreational and cultural facilities and accommodations, investing in about 778,000 square meters out of the total 1.54 million-sq-m site. Other Chinese investors are investing in Jeju as well.

What's the future plan for JDC?

The past decade has been the foundation-building period for the free international city project. For the next 10 years, JDC will take concrete steps to realize our vision more vividly.

Along with JDC's efforts to maintain Jeju's new reputation of "three haves", I hope to see more Chinese tourists looking for relaxation or maybe medical treatment in Jeju as well as students wanting to experience the world-renowned curriculum and teachers in a life-giving land, Jeju