Partial Restoration of Gwangju Plant 1
Daily Production of 6,000 Units
According to Kumho Tire, labor and management have been conducting negotiations for about a month since the end of last month to ensure job security and stable plant operations, with the operation of the Gwangju plant and relocation to the new plant being pursued on the premise of protecting employees' jobs. The final agreement was reached on this day.
First, the operation of the Gwangju plant will resume by supplementing the facilities at Plant 1, which was not damaged by the fire, to achieve a production level of 6,000 units per day within this year. To secure the operation and production capacity of Plant 1, Kumho Tire will invest in equipment, and any shortfall in rubber and semi-finished products due to the extended period required for facility setup will be supplied from the Gokseong plant and external sources.
The new plant to be established at Hampyeong Bitgreen Industrial Complex will proceed with specific construction procedures following this agreement. The first phase will involve building a facility capable of producing 5.3 million units annually by the end of 2027, with full-scale operation set to begin in January 2028.
Ultimately, upon the sale of the Gwangju plant site, Plant 1 will be relocated to the Hampyeong new plant, and the company will move forward with the construction of the second phase. Regarding job security, the company has agreed to guarantee employment for all current employees.
A Kumho Tire representative stated, "We sincerely apologize to the residents affected by the fire and express our gratitude to the related organizations and citizens who have supported us. We will strive to contribute to the local community. Although there are still many challenges to resolve, such as the sale of the site before the final relocation, we will do our best to ensure the reconstruction process proceeds smoothly."
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