Gwangju Rapidly Emerging as a Key Hub for AI Semiconductor Design

Business Agreement Signed with Five Fabless and IT Companies
Ripple Effects Expected from Innovation in Future Mobility and Manufacturing Technologies
Kang Kijeong: "We Will Support Continuous Regional Growth"

Gwangju Mayor Kang Kijeong is taking a commemorative photo after signing a business agreement to establish an AI and semiconductor industry ecosystem in Gwangju with Jung Mokyung, CEO of Dinoticsia Co., Ltd., Hwang Junghyun, CEO of Inix Co., Ltd., Lee Sanghun, CEO of Quopin Co., Ltd., Kim Sangsoo, Executive Director of KTNF Co., Ltd., and Jung Jinyong, Vice President of Myunginno Co., Ltd., in the business room of the city hall on the afternoon of the 21st. Provided by Gwangju City

Leading domestic fabless (semiconductor design) companies and information technology (IT) infrastructure firms are increasingly making their way to Gwangju, which brands itself as Korea's "representative city of artificial intelligence (AI)."

In particular, as fabless companies specializing in designing AI semiconductors?the core components of the AI industry?establish a presence in Gwangju, the local industrial ecosystem is expected to expand. In addition, collaboration with previously attracted companies is anticipated to help Gwangju emerge as a major hub for AI semiconductor design.

On April 21, Gwangju City signed the "Gwangju-Style AI Business Agreement" (the 275th to 279th agreements) with five companies in the business room of city hall: fabless firms Dinoticsia Co., Ltd., Inix Co., Ltd., and Quopin Co., Ltd., as well as IT infrastructure companies KTNF Co., Ltd. and Myunginno Co., Ltd.

The signing ceremony was attended by Mayor Kang Kijeong; Jung Mokyung, CEO of Dinoticsia Co., Ltd.; Hwang Junghyun, CEO of Inix Co., Ltd.; Lee Sanghun, CEO of Quopin Co., Ltd.; Kim Sangsoo, Executive Director of KTNF Co., Ltd.; and Jung Jinyong, Vice President of Myunginno Co., Ltd. Also present were Oh Sangjin, Head of the AI Industry Convergence Project Group, and Kang Hyunseo, Director of the Honam Regional Research Center at the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute.

Under the agreement, the five companies will collaborate with local businesses to advance their products and services, while the city will provide a favorable business environment through various policy support measures, including AI infrastructure assistance, professional talent development, and connections to relevant institutions and companies.

Notably, with this agreement, the promising domestic fabless companies Dinoticsia, Inix, and Quopin have joined the ranks of fabless firms attracted to Gwangju, bringing the total to nine fabless companies now showcasing their AI technologies in the city.

Each company has strengths in developing semiconductors specialized for large language models (LLM), image signal processing (ISP), video transmission, and remote monitoring. By integrating these technologies with Gwangju’s key industries such as future mobility and manufacturing, the companies are expected to drive technological innovation and create high-quality jobs, generating positive ripple effects throughout the region.

In addition, IT infrastructure companies KTNF and Myunginno will serve as practical support partners by building foundational systems necessary for AI model training and product validation. By expanding the supply of AI-dedicated servers in the region and providing optimal environments for running AI technology-related services, they are expected to accelerate the establishment of the Gwangju AI industry cluster.

The company representatives stated, "Gwangju is an AI-centered city with a variety of advantages, including government support, infrastructure, industrial convergence, cost reduction, and networking with institutions and companies. By leveraging Gwangju’s AI infrastructure and talent, we aim to enhance our technological capabilities and market competitiveness, and to build an ecosystem that links technology and industry through collaboration with local companies."

Mayor Kang Kijeong emphasized, "We welcome the companies that have become part of the AI ecosystem as family. We will actively support the five companies so that their technological capabilities, combined with Gwangju’s AI infrastructure and policies, can create new businesses and become a driving force for regional growth."