Aiming to Attract and Foster ICT Industries Including Semiconductors, AI, Drones, and Defense Industry
Gyeonggi-do Icheon City is undertaking an organizational restructuring to foster advanced industries such as semiconductors.
On the 30th, Icheon City announced that it will implement an organizational restructuring effective November 1, including the establishment of the 'Advanced Future City Promotion Division.'
The newly established Advanced Future City Promotion Division aims to nurture the national advanced strategic industry of semiconductors. The division will be composed of two departments: the Advanced Strategic Industry Department and the Future City Department. Meanwhile, the existing Future Growth Officer, whose duties overlapped, will be abolished.
The division will be responsible not only for fostering the semiconductor industry but also for preparing for the government's additional designation of semiconductor specialized complexes, and actively attracting and supporting the growth of high value-added information and communication technology (ICT) industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), drones, mobility, and defense industries.
This organizational restructuring appears to be in consideration of reapplying for the government's designation of a 'National Advanced Strategic Industry Specialized Complex.' Previously, in July, Icheon City challenged the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's designation of a semiconductor national advanced strategic industry specialized complex but was defeated by cities such as Yongin and Pyeongtaek.
The city is determined to reapply for the specialized complex designation. Since infrastructure for the development of the semiconductor industry, including representative local companies such as SK Hynix, is well established in the Icheon area, the city aims to nurture semiconductors as a future industry.
In fact, even after failing to secure the specialized complex designation, the city has opened semiconductor theory and practical courses at local high schools to cultivate related personnel and is focusing its efforts on expanding related infrastructure through continuous contact with SK Hynix. An Icheon City official stated, "Since SK Hynix has consistently promised mutual cooperation with Icheon City, the city will also spare no effort in providing full support."
Meanwhile, through this organizational restructuring, the Infectious Disease Management Department has been renamed the Disease Control Department. This is to reorganize the public health center following the downgrade of the COVID-19 crisis level.
With this restructuring, Icheon City will have a system consisting of 5 bureaus, 1 division, 4 officers, and 30 departments, up from the previous 5 bureaus, 5 officers, and 28 departments.
Kim Kyung-hee, Mayor of Icheon City, said, "Through this organizational restructuring, we will focus on fostering advanced industries and the mobility industry to secure urban competitiveness," adding, "Along with this, we will actively promote major issues of the 8th elected term to lead the creation of a happy Icheon for its citizens."
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