Gangwon-do to Train 10,000 Semiconductor Specialists... Full Support Until 2031

Practical Implementation of Semiconductor Cluster Formation... Inducing Relocation of Related Companies
Support for Semiconductor Educational Equipment, Research, and Development at Local Universities, Companies, and Research Institutes

Gangwon Province Governor Kim Jin-tae held a new government work report response strategy meeting on the 19th to promote the province's core strategic industries. [Gangwon Province]

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-cheol] The 8th term of Gangwon Province has established a basic direction to practically support the implementation of the 'Semiconductor Cluster Development' project, which aims to train 10,000 semiconductor specialists by 2031.

In particular, focusing on the three core keywords of key industry promotion, workforce training, and regulatory innovation, the province plans to proactively respond through interdepartmental consultations, public contests, and attraction efforts, emphasizing projects closely linked to the administration's key pledges such as semiconductor cluster development and the establishment of a special autonomous province foundation.

Regarding this core strategic industry promotion plan, Gangwon Province announced on the 23rd that "to train 10,000 semiconductor specialists required by companies in Gangwon Province by 2031, we will set directions such as establishing a semiconductor education foundation, supporting specialized workforce training, and building cooperative systems to implement mid- to long-term tasks."

In this regard, the province plans to gradually share and discuss the basic policy for workforce training, including the establishment of a Gangwon-type semiconductor shared university platform, with local universities.

Following the Ministry of Education's plan to establish semiconductor-specialized universities and semiconductor research institutes, the province will jointly respond with local universities, and Kangwon National University will form a TF team of about 10 members by the end of this month.

Kangwon National University, Hallym University, Gangneung-Wonju National University, and others will open Gangwon-type semiconductor shared universities and curricula, and the province will support semiconductor educational equipment and R&D for each university, company, and research institute.

To this end, from next year until 2028, the province will establish a tentatively named Korea Semiconductor Education Center in Wonju, with a scale of 4,000㎡ consisting of one underground floor and two above-ground floors, and will work with local universities to attract semiconductor-specialized universities and research institutes.

While taking on the role of educating university (graduate) students, vocational high school students, and incumbent workers, as well as supporting companies, the province will also undertake the basic planning service for the establishment of the education center and secure national funding.

Since the launch of the 8th term, the Gangwon provincial government has formed a semiconductor cluster development task force led by Deputy Governor Jeong Gwang-yeol, holding weekly meetings to prepare the implementation plan for the 'Semiconductor Cluster Development.'

With the organizational restructuring in October, a dedicated organization called the 'Semiconductor Industry Promotion Team' will be newly established to carry out semiconductor-related tasks more professionally and intensively.

Governor Kim Jin-tae stated, "What semiconductor companies need most is 'people.' Many local governments are competing to attract semiconductor companies, but Gangwon Province will show differentiated aspects in its workforce training plans."

He added, "We will prepare not only a mid- to long-term workforce training plan through the 'Basic Direction for Training Semiconductor Specialists in Gangwon Province' but also short-term workforce supply measures urgently needed by companies in cooperation with the provincial office of education and others."

He emphasized, "We will create a 'semiconductor education ecosystem' in Gangwon Province and induce the relocation of semiconductor-related companies to do our best in establishing the Gangwon semiconductor cluster."