The 8-Year Conflict Over the Yongin-Pyeongtaek Water Source Protection Zone Unraveled by Semiconductors

64㎢ Area in Cheoin-gu Released by Agreement... Including 1.4 Million ㎡ Semiconductor Industrial Complex
Yongin Mayor Lee Sang-il: "It Will Greatly Support Semiconductor Complex and Regional Development"

The issue of 'semiconductors' has resolved the eight-year-old conflict between Yongin City and Pyeongtaek City in Gyeonggi Province over the lifting of the water source protection zone.

The conflict over whether to lift the water source protection zone dates back to 2016. It intensified when Yongin City pushed forward a plan to relocate factories in Yubang-dong, Gorim-dong, and Yangji-myeon to Namsa-myeon, a water source protection zone of Songtan, according to the '2016 Yongin Urban Basic Plan.'

A panoramic view of Idong and Namsa-eup areas in Cheoin-gu, Yongin City, where the advanced system semiconductor national industrial complex will be established. The partial lifting of the Songtan water source protection zone has also accelerated the creation of the industrial complex. [Photo provided by Yongin City]

Yongin City had consistently requested Gyeonggi Province to lift the protection zone, but Pyeongtaek City and environmental groups opposed it, citing concerns such as the deterioration of Pyeongtaek Lake's water quality and increased water usage costs due to the change of water source (from Songtan to Paldang).

The stalled discussions on lifting the zone gained momentum last August when the government designated 7.28 million square meters in Idong and Namsa-eup as a national industrial complex for advanced system semiconductors. Since 1.4 million square meters, or 19% of the planned industrial complex site, were included in the water source protection zone, resolving this issue became an urgent matter.

To solve the problem, not only Yongin City but also government ministries such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Environment, and the project implementer Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) sought solutions. With active mediation by Gyeonggi Province, they ultimately secured a magnanimous concession from Pyeongtaek City, which holds the authority to lift the protection zone.

On the 17th, these institutions signed an agreement to lift the water source protection zone at the 'Agreement Ceremony for the Successful Establishment of the Yongin Advanced System Semiconductor Cluster National Industrial Complex and Promotion of Win-Win Cooperation' held at the FKI Tower in Seoul.

With this agreement, 64.432 square kilometers of land in Idong and Namsa-eup will be freed from the shackles of the water source protection zone that had been in place for 45 years since its designation in 1979. This area accounts for 10.9% of Yongin City's total area. The lifting of the zone will allow not only corporate settlement but also the establishment of residential, cultural arts, and sports facilities for citizens in the area.

Pyeongtaek City plans to complete the lifting of the Songtan water source protection zone before the approval of the semiconductor national industrial complex plan and will revise the water supply plan to reflect this in the water management plan. Following Pyeongtaek City's agreement to lift the Songtan water source protection zone, related organizations and companies will activate support and cooperation systems for the development of Pyeongtaek City.

Lee Sang-il, Mayor of Yongin City, said, "I am pleased that the long-standing conflict between Yongin and Pyeongtaek over the Songtan water source protection zone has been resolved through this agreement," and expressed deep gratitude to Jeong Jang-seon, Mayor of Pyeongtaek, for making a great decision for the semiconductor industry and the development of Yongin.

The mayor added, "This agreement will give momentum to the establishment of the advanced system semiconductor national industrial complex, which is directly linked to strengthening national competitiveness," and "It will also greatly help the development of the affected areas in Yongin that had suffered under regulations."