"Now is the 'Electronic Survival' Era... Semiconductor Special Act Must Be Passed"

Sangui Hosts Infrastructure Seminar
Power Transmission Network Infrastructure Delayed by 150 Months
"Need for a Grand Decision"

Experts from the economic, industrial, and academic sectors visited the National Assembly to emphasize the urgent need to rapidly expand related infrastructure such as water, electricity, and roads to enhance the competitiveness of Korea's advanced industries, including semiconductors, and to expedite the passage of the Semiconductor Special Act.

Park Il-jun, Executive Vice Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is delivering a greeting at the Advanced Industry Essential Infrastructure Seminar held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 26th. Photo by Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry

On the 26th, Professor Park Jong-bae of Konkuk University participated as a discussant at the ‘Essential Infrastructure for Advanced Industries Seminar’ held at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building. He stressed, "The world has entered an era of so-called electronic survival (電子生存), where national capabilities are focused on securing stable power supply, which is absolutely essential for the activation of AI industries such as advanced semiconductors and data centers." He added, "In Korea, the transmission network infrastructure essential for power supply to the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster is facing delays of up to 150 months due to local residents, local governments, and regulations. Therefore, it is necessary to promptly enact a special law for expanding the national backbone power grid and simultaneously promote the construction of nearby power plants."

Senior Research Fellow Cho Young-moo of the Gyeonggi Research Institute also stated, "The demand for industrial water at the Yongin Semiconductor Mega Cluster reaches at least 1.7 million cubic meters per day, but the currently available water supply is about 770,000 cubic meters, which is absolutely insufficient." He added, "It is necessary to consider constructing new dams to ensure a stable water supply."

In the keynote presentation prior to the discussion, Professor Cho Hong-jong of Dankook University said, "Although domestic advanced industry technology is excellent, it stands at 88% compared to the top technology country, the United States, lagging behind Europe and Japan, and Korea holds the top technology in only one field (future-type displays)." He emphasized, "To further enhance the competitiveness of advanced industries, the establishment of stable and efficient infrastructure must be preceded."

The seminar, jointly hosted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the ‘Future National Land Infrastructure Innovation Forum,’ was attended by five lawmakers affiliated with the research group, including Kang Dae-sik of the People Power Party, Son Myung-soo (research responsible lawmaker), Kim Young-jin, Hong Ki-won, and Yeom Tae-young of the Democratic Party. Presidents Chung Choong-ki and Choi Dong-ho of the Korean Society of Civil Engineers also attended. Economic figures such as Park Il-jun, Executive Vice Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Choi Seung-hoon, Vice President of Samsung Electronics, Jung Sang-rok, Vice President of SK Hynix, and Kim Dong-wook, Vice President of Hyundai Motor Company, were also present.

In his welcoming remarks, Executive Vice Chairman Park Il-jun said, "If the construction of infrastructure such as electricity, water, and roads is delayed, Korea could fall significantly behind in the winner-takes-all structure of advanced industries." He added, "For the long-term future of the national economy and the fate of future generations, it is time to make a grand national decision, including the passage of the Semiconductor Special Act."