Gyeonggi Province is promoting a project to develop seven areas, including Yongin and Icheon, into government-designated national advanced strategic industry semiconductor specialized complexes.
On the 27th, Gyeonggi Province announced that it applied for the designation of seven regions?Goyang, Namyangju, Hwaseong, Yongin, Icheon, Pyeongtaek, and Anseong?in the semiconductor sector of the national advanced strategic industry specialized complex contest hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
The national advanced strategic industry specialized complexes cover three sectors?semiconductors, displays, and secondary batteries?according to the National Advanced Strategic Industry Act passed by the National Assembly in January last year.
Once designated as specialized complexes, they will receive exceptional benefits such as expedited permit processing, establishment of core infrastructure like water and electricity, support for research and development (R&D), tax credits, and reductions in levies.
According to the main plans prepared by the province, Pyeongtaek City plans to designate 8.72 million square meters as a specialized complex based on the Godeok Internationalization District, where Samsung Electronics is located, and the Brain City general industrial complex. It has also prepared development plans for the specialized complex, including attracting upstream and downstream partner companies and fostering specialized personnel through the establishment of a KAIST semiconductor contract department and a next-generation semiconductor research center.
Yongin City has established a direct project site plan to designate 5.6 million square meters as a specialized complex, linking the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster where SK Hynix will move in, the Platform City planned as a semiconductor R&D technology independence cluster, and Samsung Electronics’ Giheung Campus.
Icheon City and Hwaseong City have also prepared development plans connecting leading companies SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics with local semiconductor materials, parts, and equipment (SoBuJang) companies. Icheon aims to designate 1.27 million square meters, and Hwaseong aims for 960,000 square meters as specialized complexes.
Anseong City, Namyangju City, and Goyang City have established plans to foster the semiconductor industry by designating specialized complexes in existing and planned industrial complexes within their jurisdictions.
Anseong plans to build the Dongsin general industrial complex and a semiconductor workforce training center, Namyangju aims to attract fabless companies within the Wangsuk Urban High-tech Industrial Complex, and Goyang plans to attract semiconductor companies to the candidate site for the Gyeonggi Free Economic Zone.
Kim Dong-yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "South Korea’s semiconductor industry, which boasts the world’s number one position, is engaged in fierce global competition. This application for designation as a semiconductor specialized complex holds very significant meaning for maintaining and expanding international competitiveness." He added, "We will pour all the support capabilities of the seven cities and Gyeonggi Province to succeed in attracting the semiconductor specialized complexes."
The designation of national advanced strategic industry specialized complexes will be completed in the first half of this year after the first review and adjustment by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the expert committee, followed by the final deliberation and resolution by the Advanced Strategic Industry Committee.
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