On June 30, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held a 'National Report Meeting on the Vision for Advanced Industry Development in the Southwest Region' at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Gwangju, where it revealed corporate investment plans and government support strategies.
During the event, SK, Samsung Electronics, and Amkor presented their respective investment plans for the southwest region. Specifically, SK plans to invest approximately 470 trillion won to establish two main semiconductor memory fabs and a 1GW artificial intelligence (AI) data center.
Samsung Electronics will invest 425 trillion won to create two memory semiconductor fabs and a national AI computing center, while Amkor plans to invest 1 trillion won to expand its advanced packaging plant in Gwangju.
The government is preparing a 'Strategy for Promoting Advanced Industries in the Southwest Region' to build investment infrastructure and improve regulations.
To establish a semiconductor production base, a special committee chaired by the president and a semiconductor innovation growth support team will be created. The support team will comprehensively manage power and water supply, industrial complex development, and investment schedules, while swiftly resolving any issues that arise during the investment process.
Infrastructure expansion will also be accelerated. Water supply will be sourced from dams and reclaimed wastewater, and power generation facilities and transmission networks necessary for semiconductor factory operations will be constructed in a timely manner. The timeline for developing industrial complexes will be reduced to five years, half of the current duration, and specialized training institutions for semiconductor professionals will be established.
The government will also work to improve the investment environment for businesses. It plans to designate at least one mega-special zone in the southwest region, subject to the enactment of a mega-special zone law, to ease regulations and support infrastructure costs for power and water supply up to 100%. Additionally, it is considering a differentiated tax system for businesses and workers based on regional factors.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport also announced plans to create 'corporate-type advanced cities' linked to business investments. This initiative aims to develop advanced industrial cities that integrate large-scale production facilities, research and development (R&D), and technology verification functions, while implementing a fast-track process for permits, compensation, and design to shorten project timelines. Improvements in living conditions, including transportation, housing, and education, will also be pursued alongside the establishment of innovation hubs for industry, academia, and research.
During the event, key ministries, including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with SK Hynix, Samsung Electronics, and Amkor to promote investment in advanced industries in the southwest region.
A government official stated, "This investment of 896 trillion won will serve as a turning point for not only the southwest region but also the industrial landscape of our country. We will fully support the infrastructure development and regulatory improvements to ensure that corporate investment plans are implemented without disruption."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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