Yongin City Consolidates Blueprint for Leap Forward as 'Global Semiconductor Industry Hub'

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Choi Gi-ho] Yongin Special City announced on the 2nd that it has established the '2024 Semiconductor Industry Fostering and Support Implementation Plan' for leaping forward as a 'global semiconductor industry hub city.'

This plan, which sets the goal of 'fostering the foundation for a global semiconductor industry hub city by constructing competitive semiconductor industry infrastructure,' reflects the region's current situation, the status of semiconductor industrial park development, and long-term support policies and plans necessary for fostering the semiconductor industry.

Last August, the city established the '2023 Yongin City Semiconductor Industry Fostering and Support Implementation Plan,' which added additional considerations for infrastructure such as roads and transportation, and business target sites by securing additional sites for satellite cities and national industrial zone relocation housing. The city has finalized the satellite city and relocation housing areas.

The 2024 implementation plan includes additional support policies for government semiconductor industry development, business results from the operation of a dedicated semiconductor industry department established last year, industry-academia-research-government cooperation projects, semiconductor industry-related company attraction and support, industrial park development, and professional manpower cultivation methods.

The '2024 Semiconductor Industry Fostering and Support Implementation Plan' was established based on a consulting report for 'Yongin City Comprehensive Plan for Semiconductor Industry Fostering (2024-2027)' by the Yongin City Research Institute at the end of last year. The city set the implementation methods and direction of policy projects for fostering the semiconductor industry and prepared comprehensive business strategies integrating individual projects being carried out by each department.

As detailed strategies, the city set seven projects: △strengthening administrative support system for semiconductor industry fostering △fostering semiconductor companies and supporting settlement △establishing foundation for semiconductor technology support and talent cultivation △forming an 'L-shaped semiconductor belt' △developing Yongin semiconductor cluster general industrial park △developing Yongin advanced system semiconductor cluster national industrial park △developing semiconductor satellite city and establishing connected roads and transportation networks, presenting detailed content and systematic implementation methods for 33 sub-projects.

The city is committed to making active efforts in fostering the semiconductor industry and constructing infrastructure.

It will revitalize the operation of the 'Semiconductor Industry Competitiveness Enhancement Committee' and establish a cooperation system for industry fostering. The city will strengthen the capacity of municipal public officials in the semiconductor industry and support research related to building the semiconductor ecosystem.

Additionally, the city will establish an 'Enterprise Investment Attraction IT System' to prepare an efficient investment attraction foundation and operate the 'Yongin Venture Investment Fund Investment Attraction Reception Center' and 'Youngdeok-dong Startup Support Center (System Semiconductor Startup HUB)' to attract promising companies and provide support for strengthening competitiveness.

As methods to foster professional manpower in the semiconductor industry, the city will support the 'Advanced Semiconductor Mass Production-Linked Mini-Fab Infrastructure Project,' semiconductor company R&D; support projects, and the establishment of a 'Semiconductor Meister High School' targeting spring 2026 opening. The 'UNIST-Yongin Special City Semiconductor Education and Industry-Academy Hub,' which opened in March, is also expected to play an important role in customized education to foster talent that companies desire.

The city is also preparing and implementing measures for semiconductor industrial park development and necessary road network construction.

To develop an 'L-shaped semiconductor belt' connecting major nodes of the semiconductor industry, the city has prepared administrative support measures to promptly process permits and approvals for the 'Idong-Namsa Advanced System National Industrial Park,' designated as a 'National Advanced Strategic Industry Specialized Complex,' the 'Yongin Semiconductor Cluster,' and 'Samsung Electronics Future Research Complex.'

Furthermore, the city has drawn up a blueprint to realize industrial clustering by activating the 'Platform City Urban Advanced Industrial Park' and developing the 'Yongin Semiconductor Cooperation General Industrial Park' to attract and strengthen competitiveness of semiconductor-related companies in materials, parts, and equipment.

The city will also promote the development of a 'Semiconductor Satellite New City Public Housing District' to be constructed on approximately 2.28 million ㎡ (690,000 pyeong) in Idong-eup, Cheoin-gu, develop the 'GTX Yongin Station Complex Transit Center and Semiconductor-Specialized International Conference Complex' for implementing 'Yongin Platform City,' and promote expansion of road networks connecting areas surrounding semiconductor industry-related industrial parks.

Additionally, the city will operate a field office to establish and support relocation measures for residents and companies whose land was expropriated in national industrial zones and support water and power supply facilities necessary for developing the 'Yongin Semiconductor Cluster' in Wonsam-myeon, Cheoin-gu, and public sewage treatment facilities, as well as support SK Hynix's semiconductor 'FAB (Fabrication Plant) 1' located in the 'Yongin Semiconductor Cluster' to begin construction as scheduled in March next year.

Mayor Lee Sang-il said, "We have established a plan that concretizes necessary projects for fostering the semiconductor industry in line with our vision of developing Yongin into a hub of Korea's new growth momentum and a center of the global semiconductor industry," adding, "We will establish and implement comprehensive support plans for company and investment attraction necessary for semiconductor industry development, infrastructure construction for roads and railways, cultivation of professional manpower, and development of semiconductor satellite cities."

Mayor Lee continued, "The government is announcing additional support measures for semiconductor industry fostering, and Yongin is also preparing new support measures for company support and construction of various infrastructure," emphasizing, "We will thoroughly prepare and establish plans to enhance the completion of changes and innovation taking place in Yongin and turn the vision of a leap to the world's best semiconductor industry city into reality."