Lee Sang-il: "To Develop Yongin Semiconductor Industry, Power Grid and Transportation Networks Must Be Expanded Seamlessly"

[Suwon Ilbo=Choi Ki-ho] Yongin Special City announced on the 18th that a joint meeting of the ruling party's Energy and AI Semiconductor Special Committee was held at the 'Yongin Semiconductor Cluster' in Wonsam-myeon, Choeun-gu.

At the meeting, explanations were provided regarding the power supply plan for the 'Yongin Semiconductor Cluster,' where approximately 50 semiconductor material, component, and equipment companies are scheduled to move in, centered on SK Hynix, a leading semiconductor company, and progress on the general industrial complex project. Support measures for successful development of the industrial complex were also discussed.

The meeting was attended by Yongin Mayor Lee Sang-il, Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Choi Nam-ho, and SK Hynix Executive Vice President Seo Chul-su, who emphasized the necessity of financial and institutional support from the government and National Assembly.

From the ruling party, Energy Special Committee Chair Kim Sung-won, Secretary Kim In-seon, and lawmakers Koo Ja-geun, Park Hyung-soo, Choi Hyung-doo, Kim So-hee, and Kim Jong-yang attended, along with AI and Semiconductor Special Committee Chair Ko Dong-jin and lawmakers Song Seok-jun and Lee Sung-gwon.

SK Hynix President Kim Dong-seop and Executive Vice President Sohn Seok-woo, as well as Yongin General Industrial Complex Co., Ltd. Representative Director Bang Seong-jong also participated.

At the meeting, Mayor Lee expressed the opinion that "for Yongin City to leap forward as the center of South Korea's semiconductor industry, various types of support for industrial complex development and expansion of power grid and transportation infrastructure must be carried out in a timely manner."

The mayor stated, "The 'Yongin Semiconductor Cluster' is being developed with the goal of commencing first production lines (Fab) in spring 2027, and with national support, projects for water and power supply are progressing smoothly," and added, "To develop the 'Yongin Semiconductor Cluster,' which will become the core base of South Korea's semiconductor industry, and the 'Yongin Dongdong·Namsa Advanced System Semiconductor Cluster National Industrial Complex,' the power grid, particularly transmission and distribution networks, must be laid out as planned without disruption, and infrastructure development for transportation is also very important. I request the special attention and support of the ruling party lawmakers attending today."

The mayor continued, "Along with the Gyeonggang Line extension that President Yoon Seok-yeol promised when presiding over a civil affairs forum in Yongin on March 25, the establishment of a semiconductor expressway, the expansion of the challenging slope section of Provincial Road 57 from a two-lane to four-lane, and the provision of a connecting tunnel are necessary for building the semiconductor industry ecosystem," and added, "National Road 17 is planned to be expanded to six lanes from Yangji IC to Jizan Resort. If this is extended to Bogae Wonsam-ro, traffic congestion that could disrupt the movement of logistics and personnel can be resolved."

Lawmakers attending the meeting recognized the importance of the 'Yongin Semiconductor Cluster,' which will become the central axis of South Korea's semiconductor industry, and pledged parliamentary-level support and interest. To this end, they emphasized the importance of power supply, which must be urgently resolved for semiconductor industry growth, and discussed future countermeasures.

Energy Special Committee Chair Kim Sung-won of the ruling party stated, "Semiconductors are a key industry that can play a central role in South Korea's exports and economy," and added, "Regarding the power supply, which is the most important infrastructure of the 'Yongin Semiconductor Cluster,' we will establish measures to reflect on-site opinions and provide substantial assistance."

AI and Semiconductor Special Committee Chair Ko Dong-jin said, "Everyone agrees that the most urgent issue for the 'Yongin Semiconductor Cluster' under development at the center of South Korea's semiconductor industry and the 'Yongin Dongdong·Namsa Advanced System Semiconductor Cluster National Industrial Complex' is the power problem," and added, "I hope this becomes a meeting where we establish ways to implement full-scale support from the government, the National Assembly, and the party, and understand what is needed."

An SK Hynix representative, investing 122 trillion won to develop the 'Yongin Semiconductor Cluster,' cited examples of subsidies being provided by various countries worldwide to improve semiconductor industry competitiveness and requested government administrative and financial support.

SK Hynix Executive Vice President Jung Sang-rok said, "Major countries such as the United States and Japan are providing substantial subsidies to enhance their semiconductor industry competitiveness and attracting world-renowned companies," and added, "South Korea also needs to provide subsidies to respond to major competitors, and we ask for support from the National Assembly and the government."

After hearing explanations about the 'Yongin Semiconductor Cluster' development plan, Mayor Lee Sang-il and members of the ruling party's Energy and AI Semiconductor Special Committees moved to the industrial complex development site to directly check construction progress and urged site officials and Korea Electric Power Corporation to do their best to ensure smooth development of the industrial complex as planned.