South Korea and Japan's Hokkaido region are set to expand cooperation in the semiconductor and future growth industries. A forum will be held in Sapporo, Japan, in November to broaden the business collaboration between companies from both countries.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held a 'Korea-Japan (Hokkaido) Semiconductor Industry Cooperation Exchange Meeting' in Seoul on September 22. This event marks the first economic cooperation initiative between the ministry and Hokkaido's regional government and business leaders, aimed at exploring collaboration in future growth industries, particularly semiconductors.
The two countries are engaged in complementary semiconductor cooperation, combining South Korea's memory production technology with Japan's advanced materials and precision equipment. Hokkaido is currently focusing on developing a high-tech semiconductor cluster centered around Rapidus, with efforts underway to attract related companies, establish research and development foundations, and cultivate talent.
The ministry sees significant potential for collaboration between South Korea, which has built a global semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem, and Hokkaido.
Attendees at the exchange meeting included Bae Jun-hyung, Director of the Trade Cooperation Bureau at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Koo Ja-yeol, Chairman of the Korea-Japan Economic Association. From Japan, participants included Urata Hideyuki, Director of the Hokkaido Economic and Industrial Bureau at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Fujii Yutaka, Chairman of the Hokkaido Economic Federation. They discussed the potential for cooperation in future growth industries, including semiconductors, and facilitated exchanges between businesses and economic organizations.
Building on this exchange, the ministry plans to host the 'Korea-Japan (Hokkaido) Future Growth Industry Forum 2026' in Sapporo in November. The subsequent forum aims to solidify cooperation in future growth industries with Hokkaido and support business collaboration between Korean and Japanese companies.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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