Investment in Yongin Idong-Namsa Advanced System Semiconductor National Industrial Complex Expanded from 300 Trillion Won to 360 Trillion Won

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Choi Ki-ho] Samsung Electronics' investment in the advanced system semiconductor national industrial complex being developed in Yongin's Idong and Namsa townships will increase from 300 trillion won to 360 trillion won.

This reflects a 60 trillion won increase in Samsung Electronics' investment as the number of semiconductor production lines (Fabs) at the site increases from the initially planned 5 to 6.

Yongin Special City announced on the 17th that as Samsung Electronics expands its investment in the national industrial complex, the production-inducing effect of the complex is expected to increase from 400 trillion won to 480 trillion won, and direct and indirect employment effects are expected to rise from 1.6 million to 1.92 million people.

Mayor Lee Sang-il explained that Samsung Electronics' decision to increase investment in the Yongin Idong-Namsa advanced system semiconductor national industrial complex can be interpreted as maintaining technological superiority in increasingly fierce semiconductor competition and strengthening competitiveness in future semiconductor sectors such as system semiconductors beyond memory chips.

Following Samsung Electronics' announcement of plans to expand investment scale, the city is preparing to arrange all 6 Fabs in the land use plan for the national industrial complex.

The city plans to make all-out efforts to accelerate the groundbreaking of the national industrial complex from the originally planned end of 2026 to at least 6 months earlier, given that President Yoon Suk Yeol emphasized a "speed strategy" to maintain semiconductor industry superiority at the civil welfare discussion held on the 15th.

The city will closely coordinate with central government ministries including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, as well as the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH), the project implementer of the national industrial complex, to concentrate administrative capacity to ensure seamless supply of electricity and water, essential for semiconductor production, at each stage of Fab operation.

The Idong-Namsa advanced system semiconductor national industrial complex was designated as a candidate site with an area of 7.1 million square meters (2.15 million pyeong) on March 15 of last year, and an additional 360,000 square meters (approximately 110,000 pyeong) including residential land for relocated residents was designated on November 15 of the same year, for a total size of 7.47 million square meters (2.26 million pyeong).

LH, the project implementer, is currently establishing an industrial complex plan and plans to apply for approval of the industrial complex plan to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in the first quarter of this year. The government has decided to waive preliminary feasibility studies to accelerate the development of the national industrial complex.

LH plans to obtain approval of the industrial complex plan by early next year, begin industrial complex development construction at the end of 2026, and commence operation of the first Fab in 2030, while the city is committed to advancing groundbreaking by at least 6 months.

In accordance with its policy to develop the national industrial complex as quickly as possible, the city will designate a dedicated organization (Semiconductor Division 2) to provide support, and plans to open a field communication office in the candidate site area in the first quarter of this year to actively communicate with residents.

Mayor Lee Sang-il said, "In Yongin, Samsung Electronics, a semiconductor anchor company, will invest 360 trillion won, SK Hynix will invest 1.22 trillion won, with approximately 150 companies in materials, components, equipment, and fabless (design) businesses set to operate in Idong-Namsa townships and about 50 in Won-sam township, which is expected to establish the world's largest-scale semiconductor ecosystem with the highest competitiveness," adding "The city will do its utmost to support the successful implementation of such a large-scale project."