Welcoming the Presidential Office's Announcement of the "RE100 Industrial Complex"
Special Act to Be Enacted Within the Year: Zero Regulation and Electricity Rate Discounts
"Green Light for Attracting Private Company Data Centers to Gwangju"
Min Hyungbae, member of the Democratic Party of Korea.
Min Hyungbae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea representing Gwangsan-eul in Gwangju, commented on July 10 regarding the presidential office's announcement of the "RE100 Industrial Complex Development Plan," stating, "This will be a groundbreaking policy that brings new hope and growth momentum to the Honam region."
On July 11, in an official statement, Min emphasized, "Gwangju and Jeonnam, where smart grid technology, offshore wind power along the west coast, and agrivoltaics are concentrated, are being evaluated as the optimal locations for the RE100 industrial complex. I am confident that this region will become the central axis of Korea's energy transition."
The announcement of the "RE100 Industrial Complex" is a concrete implementation of a key pledge made by President Lee Jaemyung to the Honam region during the presidential election. During the campaign, President Lee promised to make Gwangju and Jeonnam the center of the energy industry, and declared that "companies will inevitably come to regions rich in renewable energy," signaling his commitment to establishing Honam as an energy industry hub.
Notably, in this announcement, President Lee personally instructed a "principle of zero regulation" and called for dramatic improvements in electricity rates, as well as in education and residential conditions.
This is interpreted as an innovative approach that goes beyond simply creating an industrial complex, aiming for genuine national balanced development. As a result, there are growing expectations that the Honam region, which has long been marginalized due to the concentration of resources in the Seoul metropolitan area, will become a true engine of growth by generating local food and jobs through the "RE100 Industrial Complex."
Amid a global shift toward AI technology supremacy and carbon neutrality, the "RE100 Industrial Complex" is expected to serve as a key driver for Gwangju to advance from an AI pilot city to a leading city.
The government is pursuing the expansion of the "National AI Data Center" currently operating in Gwangju. This is also a core project of President Lee's campaign pledge to establish a 10 trillion won Gwangju AI Computing Center.
Min stated, "I have held several working-level meetings with private companies such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and SK," adding, "There is also the possibility of these companies investing in data centers in Gwangju. Gwangju will undoubtedly grow into a central hub of the 'AI+ Global Energy Convergence Ecosystem.'"
He continued, "The goal is to pass the 'Special Act on the Establishment and Support of the RE100 Industrial Complex and Energy New City' during this year's regular session of the National Assembly, which demonstrates the strong commitment of the Lee Jaemyung administration." He added, "I expect systematic and swift progress will be made through the formation of an inter-ministerial task force led by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy."
Min also emphasized, "As a member of the National Assembly's Special Committee on the Climate Crisis, I have continuously proposed related bills and engaged in legislative activities to promote renewable energy." He stressed, "The establishment of the RE100 Industrial Complex should go beyond simple industrial development to become a model of co-prosperity with local residents, and I will actively support this at the parliamentary level."
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