Yongin Mayor Lee Sangil Urges Government to Take Responsibility and Support Yongin Semiconductor Belt

New Year's Press Briefing: "Relocating to Local Regions Is an Irresponsible Claim That Undermines Industrial Competitiveness"
"We Will Steadily Advance the Creation of the Semiconductor Belt to Prepare for South Korea's Future"

"Proposals to relocate Yongin's semiconductor cluster to regions such as Saemangeum would destroy South Korea's semiconductor industry. These politically motivated arguments, made without understanding the reality and only causing confusion, must be stopped immediately."

The main focus of Yongin Mayor Lee Sangil during the New Year's press briefing held at the Giheung ICT Valley Convention Center in Gugaldong, Giheung-gu, Yongin City, on January 9 was 'semiconductors.' Mayor Lee devoted most of the nearly two-hour meeting to criticizing the recent debate, raised by political circles, over relocating the semiconductor cluster to regional areas.

Lee Sangil, Mayor of Yongin, is urging the government to provide responsible support for the "Yongin Semiconductor Belt" during a New Year's press briefing held on the 9th at Giheung ICT Valley. Provided by Yongin City

Mayor Lee stated, "Not only has SK Hynix's semiconductor production line, which broke ground early last year, begun construction, but the national advanced system semiconductor industrial complex in Idong and Namsa, where Samsung Electronics will be located, has already completed administrative procedures and entered the land compensation phase." He emphasized, "Insisting on relocating these projects to regional areas for political purposes, when both projects are already well underway, is an irresponsible claim that undermines national competitiveness."

Mayor Lee also called on the Presidential Office and the government to take responsible action. Although the previous day, the Presidential Office attempted to settle the controversy by stating that "relocation of the semiconductor cluster to regional areas is not under review," Mayor Lee argued that this too was an irresponsible remark.

The previous day, the Presidential Office had stated, "Relocation of companies is a decision for the companies themselves," and "We are not currently reviewing the relocation of companies involved in the cluster."

He said, "The system semiconductor complex is a national project designated as a 'specialized complex' by the government," adding, "The government must draw a clearer line against relocation arguments and take responsibility for supporting the project."

Mayor Lee particularly stressed, "Now, the President must step forward to resolve the confusion," and demanded, "Please make your position clear to the public."

He further stated, "What the government must do now is to ensure that electricity and water are supplied to the semiconductor complex as originally planned, without any setbacks, and to persuade those who oppose the project."

According to Yongin City, as of December last year, compensation procedures for the advanced system semiconductor complex had already reached a 20% completion rate. If this pace continues, the compensation process is expected to be completed within the year, allowing for the full-scale removal of obstacles and site development work to begin.

Mayor Lee emphasized, "The competitiveness of the semiconductor industry depends on time." He noted that demand for AI semiconductors has already tripled compared to when the complex was first designated, and DRAM demand is also surging. Therefore, he insisted that the first-phase Samsung Electronics semiconductor fab within the complex must be supported to operate as planned by 2030, without delays.

He also refuted claims by regional politicians advocating for the use of solar and other renewable energy sources to power semiconductor operations. "Even if the entire Saemangeum reclamation area were covered with solar panels, it would still not be enough to reliably produce the 15 gigawatts of electricity needed to operate a semiconductor fab," he said.

Mayor Lee warned that, with 90% of domestic semiconductor materials, components, and equipment companies concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area, dispersing Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix production lines to regional areas would threaten the semiconductor ecosystem that has been built up over decades.

Yongin City plans to continue advancing its ongoing semiconductor projects without setbacks this year as well. The city aims to accelerate the construction of the "L-shaped semiconductor belt," which will connect the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster, the national advanced system semiconductor industrial complex, and the Platform City near Guseong Station.

Mayor Lee stated, "We will establish a support system to expand infrastructure such as roads and railways for the success of the semiconductor belt, laying the foundation for the creation of the world's largest semiconductor ecosystem." He added, "In particular, we will enhance cultural and leisure facilities in Platform City and the Idong Public Housing District to improve the living conditions for workers in the semiconductor belt."

Mayor Lee concluded, "Yongin's large-scale semiconductor belt is not an abstract plan, but a reality unfolding before our eyes," and pledged, "We will accelerate the construction of the semiconductor belt, as we have been doing, to prepare for the future of the city and South Korea without wavering."