Governor Kim Dongyeon's 206,695 km Marathon Pays Off
Strengthening the 'K-Semiconductor Hub' Status Amid High Praise from Leading Companies
Gyeonggi Province Achieves 100.0563 Trillion Won in Investment as of October
31.0344 Trillion Won from Global Corporations, 40.9995 Trillion Won in High-Tech Sectors
21.5345 Trillion Won Attracted Through Industrial Complexes, Self-Sufficient Cities, and Innovation Clusters
"We have a tightly connected communication system, from the investment department to the governor, which is why I can confidently say Gyeonggi Province is our best cooperation partner."
This is how Kim Wookyu, CEO of Merck Korea, answered when asked about the reasons for continuously expanding investment in Gyeonggi Province.
Kim Dongyeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, is signing an investment agreement with Integras in Boston, USA, last October. Provided by Gyeonggi Province
Merck operates global businesses in three divisions: Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics, employing approximately 63,000 people in 65 countries worldwide.
Merck Korea, the local subsidiary, has consistently invested in a total of six facilities in Gyeonggi Province-including production and research centers for semiconductor and display materials in Pyeongtaek, Anseong, and Siheung-since 2002. In October last year, Merck opened the SoD (Spin-on Dielectric) Research Center in Anseong, focused on semiconductor wiring pre-processing products. To date, Merck has invested over 250 billion won in Gyeonggi Province and has hired more than 900 employees, making a significant contribution to local job creation and economic revitalization.
Kim Wookyu, CEO of Merck Korea, explained the reasons for continued investment in Gyeonggi Province as follows: securing geographical proximity to major clients; providing an excellent environment for attracting top talent; and the strong commitment of the local government to active support.
Kim stated, "Merck places great importance on geographical proximity that can increase the speed of technical response and the efficiency of collaboration with our key clients. Gyeonggi Province offers an excellent environment for securing outstanding talent and demonstrates a strong willingness to provide active support. All these factors, combined with excellent industrial infrastructure, create optimal conditions for our operations."
When asked to evaluate Gyeonggi Province's role in the investment process, he said, "The province's efforts to establish a world-class semiconductor cluster have played a very positive role in expanding Merck's business opportunities. For various issues arising during investment and operations, Gyeonggi Province has been a reliable partner with its business-friendly policies and prompt administrative support."
Kim Jaewon, CEO of Entegris Korea, cited "close cooperation with world-class clients leading the future of technology in the region" as the reason for investing in Gyeonggi Province. He added, "From a business operation perspective, Gyeonggi Province is not only an excellent manufacturing hub but is also widely recognized as a center of innovation and technological convergence."
Kim further stated, "The business-friendly policies and prompt administrative support of Gyeonggi Province have been a great help in efficiently and smoothly resolving regulatory and operational issues. The world-class semiconductor cluster and robust industrial ecosystem for manufacturing and technological innovation being built in Gyeonggi Province align with Entegris's investment direction and business objectives."
Entegris, headquartered in Massachusetts, USA, is a comprehensive semiconductor solutions company providing advanced materials and process solutions for high-tech industries such as semiconductors and life sciences. Since establishing its headquarters and research center in Suwon in 2012, the company has operated factories in Jangan, Hwaseong, and Oseong, Pyeongtaek. In July this year, Entegris established the Korea Technology Center (KTC) at Hanyang University ERICA Campus in Ansan, offering R&D, analytical services, and process demonstrations.
To date, Entegris has invested 147 billion won in Gyeonggi Province and employs more than 400 people locally. The company is reportedly planning to invest up to an additional 50 million dollars in the region.
Choi Seungsoo, CEO of ULVAC Korea, also stated that Gyeonggi Province is the ideal partner for the company to secure global competitiveness and achieve sustainable growth.
Choi highly praised the environment, saying, "The world's leading IT companies and advanced manufacturing infrastructure are concentrated here, and major clients such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are located in the region, maximizing technological synergy."
He continued, "The successful establishment of the Pyeongtaek Technology Center last year was possible thanks to Gyeonggi Province's active investment attraction efforts and comprehensive administrative support. The province listened to our needs and provided all necessary administrative assistance, including streamlining permit procedures."
Kim Dongyeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, is delivering a greeting at the opening ceremony of the Merck Anseong Plant Semiconductor Materials Research Institute in October 2024. Provided by Gyeonggi Province
He added, "With ULVAC Korea's investment, I hope Gyeonggi Province will establish itself as a global semiconductor hub and strengthen the competitiveness of the K-Semiconductor Belt. ULVAC Korea will also strive for mutual growth with the local community by supporting local talent development programs, creating jobs, and introducing environmentally friendly technologies."
Founded in 1952, the Japanese ULVAC Group is a global leader in vacuum technology, producing high-quality semiconductor equipment. ULVAC Korea, established in 1995, has invested a total of 110 million dollars in Gyeonggi Province since 2000, including seven equipment manufacturing sites in Pyeongtaek and Paju, the Bundang Technology Development Center for equipment design, and a technology center.
With the positive evaluations from these companies and Gyeonggi Province's continued efforts, the 8th popularly elected government of Gyeonggi Province achieved the significant milestone of attracting over 100 trillion won in investment this year ahead of schedule.
Governor Kim Dongyeon officially announced during his business trip to the United States in October that he had achieved the 100 trillion won investment attraction goal by successfully bringing in investments from global semiconductor companies. This surpassed the target investment amount in just two years and eight months since the goal of attracting over 100 trillion won during his term was announced in February 2023.
Over the past three years, Governor Kim Dongyeon has personally met with executives from domestic and international companies, actively promoting Gyeonggi Province's high investment value through global sales efforts. The total travel distance alone reached 206,695 kilometers, equivalent to circling the globe five times. Gyeonggi Province and its affiliated public institutions worked together to move beyond a focus on attracting only foreign capital, implementing comprehensive investment attraction strategies targeting both domestic and international companies, policy funds, and the development of technovalleys. Thanks to Governor Kim's sincere sales efforts, the chairman of a leading American company even expressed his intention to invest with 'No Limit' and signed a large-scale memorandum of understanding.
Meanwhile, under the 8th popularly elected administration, Gyeonggi Province has attracted 31.0344 trillion won in investment from 94 global companies over the past three and a half years, including Onsemi, a world-class company in the field of non-memory power semiconductors, and ASM, a global leader in advanced semiconductor process equipment manufacturing. In addition, 40.9995 trillion won was attracted from advanced industry leaders such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix; 21.5345 trillion won from the creation of industrial complexes, self-sufficient cities, and innovation clusters such as Pangyo 2nd Technovalley and Pyeongtaek Brain City; and 6.4879 trillion won from G-Fund and national R&D, achieving a total investment attraction of approximately 100.0563 trillion won.
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