New Year's Message Mayor Lee Sang-il of Yongin Special City

Dear 1.1 million citizens of Yongin Special City!

I am Lee Sang-il, Mayor of Yongin City. I extend my New Year's greetings to you.

As we enter the year of the red horse, I wish all of you to leap forward greatly and achieve your goals with the strength and vigor of a galloping horse.

I pray that health and happiness will always be with you.

In the 8th term, Yongin Special City has achieved considerable results and walked the path of transformation. In the new year, building upon these accumulated accomplishments, we are moving toward a more developed and livable city.

Recently, various media outlets have been paying attention to the changes in Yongin Special City.

In economic sectors including semiconductor industries as well as urban environment, transportation, culture, arts, and sports—virtually all areas touching citizens' lives—there is an abundance of vitality.

There are numerous evaluations and analyses stating that we are creating a 'Yongin Renaissance'.

In the economic sector, centered on two leading companies—Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix—that lead the semiconductor industry, a considerable number of excellent enterprises are either establishing themselves in Yongin or preparing to move in. Yongin is rapidly evolving from a city with mixed agricultural and urban characteristics into a cutting-edge industrial city. More good jobs are being created in Yongin, and the city's finances are strengthening. As city finances improve, we will invest more in citizens.

In particular, in the semiconductor field, an era of 1 quadrillion won investment has opened. Major investments and projects are underway to transform Yongin into South Korea's representative semiconductor hub and the world's highest-level semiconductor mega cluster.

Paying attention to the investment scale of nearly 1 quadrillion won, a new term 'cheonjoga gaepbyeok' (千兆開闢—opening through a trillion times transformation) has emerged, signifying that Yongin is experiencing unprecedented and profound changes.

At the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster in Wonsam-myeon, Cheorin-gu, SK Hynix's first production line (fab) broke ground on February 24 of last year. Construction is progressing toward the goal of completing part of the first fab by March 2027.

At the advanced systems semiconductor national industrial complex being developed in Idong and Namsa-eup, the compensation process has been proceeding smoothly since the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's business plan approval in December 2024, with compensation beginning in December 2025. Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH), which is handling the project, concluded a land allotment contract with Samsung Electronics in December 2025. That Samsung Electronics signed such a contract means the national industrial complex will be developed in Yongin as planned, rather than relocating elsewhere.

SK Hynix recently announced it would expand its investment scale from the initially announced 122 trillion won to over 600 trillion won. This reflects the increased investment stemming from enlarged fab scales and introduction of cutting-edge facilities.

Such investment expansion is attributable to the designation in July 2023 of three locations—SK Hynix's Yongin Semiconductor Cluster, Samsung Electronics' advanced systems semiconductor national industrial complex, and Samsung Electronics' future research complex (Giheung Campus)—as specialized national advanced strategic industry complexes. The designation as specialized complexes enables floor area ratio adjustments under relevant laws, which has increased investment scales.

SK Hynix changed its original plan for four production lines with two basement levels to four production lines with three basement levels, and as the clean room area increased 1.5 times, investment was raised from 122 trillion won to 600 trillion won. Samsung Electronics, which announced 360 trillion won investment in the Idong-Namsa national industrial complex, is constructing six production lines with three basement levels, so investment is expected to increase further.

Along with the two major corporations, excellent semiconductor materials, components, and equipment companies such as ASML, Lam Research Korea, and Tokyo Electron Korea are entering Yongin successively, and further investment and job creation are anticipated.

The number of semiconductor materials, components, and equipment companies that have already entered Yongin or confirmed their moves reaches 92, with many being competitive mid-sized and large enterprises.

The investment amount decided by these companies for Yongin is approximately 3.4 trillion won.

As quality enterprises increase, the influx of small and medium enterprises and startups is also becoming more active. In just the past three years, 710 small and medium enterprises and startups have entered existing industrial complexes and urban advanced industrial complexes, and Yongin's venture ecosystem is expected to become even more vibrant.

The city will support operating fund interest for small and medium enterprises and startups, operate startup support centers specialized in AI, semiconductors, and biotechnology, and serve as a reliable partner.

As Yongin grows into South Korea's representative semiconductor hub city, various cities worldwide want to establish sister city relationships with Yongin.

In 2025, the city established sister city or friendly exchange agreements with Fairfax County in Virginia and Williamson County in Texas in the United States, and Seville in Spain. We have been discussing cooperation with Montpellier in France and cities in Italy. The meaningful changes in Yongin's international status over the past three years are considerable.

Efforts to expand Yongin's transportation network have begun bearing fruit one by one.

On December 23, the South Yongin IC on the Sejong-Pocheon Expressway opened, making it much more convenient for residents of the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster area, Wonsam-myeon, and Idong-eup to use the expressway.

Permission for connecting a new East Yongin IC (tentative name) to this expressway was received from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in October of last year. The Dongbaek IC installation project on the Yeongdong Expressway, currently in detailed design, also received Ministry approval in the latter half of 2024. Construction will begin in 2027 with a target completion in 2028.

The plan to construct a grid-pattern expressway and express highway network across the city is also making progress.

In 2024, the Gyeongbu Underground Expressway project passed preliminary feasibility assessment. In September 2025, the Yongin-Chungju Expressway project passed private investment feasibility assessment. In October 2025, the so-called semiconductor expressway connecting Hwaseong's Yanggam through Yongin's Namsa and Idong to Anseong's Iljuk also passed private investment feasibility assessment. For the Yongin-Seongnam Expressway project, the AHP evaluation determining policy necessity was completed in November 2025, and feasibility assessment is currently underway.

The National Route 45 expansion project, which will serve as the gateway to the advanced systems semiconductor national industrial complex, is also accelerating. This project, which widens the currently four-lane road to eight lanes, had its preliminary feasibility assessment exemption decided in August 2024.

For the new construction of a four-lane road in an 11.54km section from Namdon to Yangji to alleviate traffic congestion on National Route 42, the project was selected as a subject for preliminary feasibility assessment in the 6th National and Local Road Construction Plan. When this road opens, it will connect by express highway from Singal to Yangji, alleviating congestion on National Route 42 and significantly helping to distribute traffic on the Yeongdong Expressway.

Efforts to expand the railroad network, which was absolutely lacking in Yongin, have also achieved meaningful results.

In August 2025, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport requested the Korea Development Institute (KDI) to conduct a private investment feasibility assessment for the central region express railway, which is being reviewed as an alternative to extending the Gyeong-gang Line. This route, connecting from Jamsil in Seoul through Cheorin-gu in Yongin to Cheongju Airport, overlaps with the Gyeong-gang Line extension route in Yongin, so I believe an era when railroads will be established in Yongin's Cheorin-gu is dawning. There is a possibility that the Gyeong-gang Line extension project will be reflected in the 5th National Railroad Network Construction Plan, and the central region express railway project will be promoted accordingly.

On December 11, 2025, the new Dongbaek-Sinbong Urban Railway and Yongin Light Rail Gwanggyo extension projects received Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport approval, with final reflection in the 2nd Gyeonggi Province Urban Railroad Network Construction Plan. The city will continue efforts to reflect the new Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railroad project, which will connect with the Dongbaek-Sinbong line, in the 5th National Railroad Network Plan.

As advanced enterprises successively enter Yongin, we are also steadily promoting the creation of a future city where advanced IT talent can settle stably, with harmonized residential areas, living infrastructure, and transportation.

The Platform City project, which is developing undeveloped areas in Mabuk, Boseong, and Singal-dong in Giheung-gu into advanced business spaces and residential areas for citizens, has already begun earth-moving construction and is progressing in earnest.

The Idong semiconductor-specialized new city adjacent to the advanced systems semiconductor national industrial complex, namely the Idong public housing district, completed regional designation by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on January 24, 2025. Currently, follow-up procedures such as design are being carried out step by step, and measures to expand the supply scale originally planned at 16,000 units are also being reviewed.

The city has normalized the Eonam district project at the former Police Academy site in cooperation with Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH), and is striving to bring change to long-stagnant areas including the undeveloped blocks in the Gorim district and Yeokssam district.

In the field of improving educational environment, Yongin has invested the most budget in Gyeonggi Province and has achieved meaningful results receiving national attention.

Over the past three years since the 8th term began, the mayor has held 39 meetings between school principals and parents of elementary, middle, and high schools across the city, listening to voices from school sites and improving commute and educational environments. Through this process, 1,301 suggestions were received spanning diverse fields including education, roads, transportation, and environment, with 555 already resolved and 139 currently being resolved.

Particularly, matters directly related to student safety are being addressed without delay. Typical examples include installation of student drop-off and pick-up bays at Yongin Elementary, Youngmun Middle, Yongdong Middle, Taesung Middle, and Yongin High schools, and installation of a turnaround at the front of Guseong High School.

In the winter of 2025, to ensure students experience no inconvenience in commuting even when snow falls, we created, for the first time in South Korea, a 'school snow removal map' and designated responsible personnel for each school to ensure snow removal is conducted more swiftly and systematically.

In culture, arts, and sports, we have achieved notable results and elevated the city's dignity further.

Poeun Art Hall increased its seating from the existing 1,259 seats to 1,525 seats and transformed into a space featuring top-tier domestic sound and lighting facilities for enjoying quality performances. As a result, excellent performances including musicals 'Empress Myeongseong' and 'Chicago' have followed, and popular singers' concerts are held frequently. Increased rental revenue has also contributed to strengthening Poeun Art Hall's operational foundation.

The 'Korea Joayong Festival 2025,' the nation's first character festival led by the city's official character 'Joayong,' received great response from citizens. With 29 characters from domestic sister cities, universities, enterprises, and organizations participating, the event brought unique joy and memories to many citizens.

Following the successful hosting of the 42nd Korea Drama Festival and the 1st Korea University Drama Festival in 2024, the 2nd Korea University Drama Festival held in 2025 also received praise, further solidifying the image of 'cultural city Yongin'.

In sports, we have achieved meaningful results in both community sports and elite sports.

In community sports, with the belief that 'true city dignity comes when citizens are healthy,' we have focused on expanding easily accessible sports facilities. Barefoot walking trails, of which there were none when the 8th term began, have increased to 60 by the end of last year, allowing anyone to walk comfortably at nearby locations.

Including the Giheung National Sports Center swimming pool that opened in July last year, there are currently 7 public swimming pools operating 41 lanes, and we are promoting new construction of 8 additional public swimming pools with 56 new lanes. The number of swimming pools will increase by 114% and the number of lanes by 137%.

Reflecting the recent significant increase in citizens enjoying park golf, we are promoting expansion of the two existing park golf courses to seven or more with momentum. The park golf courses at Yeokbuk 2 Neighborhood Park in Cheorin-gu, Giheung Lake Park in Giheung-gu, and Suji Central Park in Suji-gu have already confirmed plans and are underway. A 9-hole park golf course is also planned on the upper level of public wastewater treatment facilities within the SK Hynix Yongin Semiconductor Cluster in Wonsam-myeon.

In elite sports, which will bring joy and pride to citizens, we have continued achieving results that elevate Yongin's status.

We have established a citizen professional football club that citizens have long awaited, enabling citizens to watch and cheer for 'Yongin FC (tentative name)' matches from the 2026 season onwards. We plan to hold the Yongin FC inaugural ceremony on January 4. First CEO Kim Jin-hyeong, Coach Choi Yun-gyeom, and Director of Player Development Lee Dong-guk have been evaluated as recruiting competitive players. Media outlets are classifying Yongin FC as a dark horse and issuing successive reports expecting their performance.

Woo Sang-hyeok, a high jumper affiliated with Yongin Special City, won 7 international competitions in 2025 and captured a silver medal at the Tokyo World Athletics Championships, widely introducing Yongin's name to the global stage.

The 'SERI PAK with Yongin' event, which the city is conducting with Park Se-ri, former Olympic women's golf national team coach, has not only brought great joy to citizens but also achieved positive effects on children's education and city brand awareness.

Over the past three years and six months, the 8th term Yongin Special City has achieved numerous results, advanced all sectors of the city, elevated its dignity, and received praise from national media. Nevertheless, there is still much work to be done.

Completing the world's largest semiconductor mega cluster and establishing South Korea's semiconductor hub city is a major undertaking that must be pursued steadfastly for more than two decades.

As a city looking forward to metropolitan status in the future, we must further solidify the foundation of citizens' lives and accelerate the expansion of roads and railroads that will organically connect the mega semiconductor industrial complexes. We must further improve residential spaces for advanced IT talent and educational conditions for future generations.

In 2026, I will concentrate on raising the completeness of the semiconductor-specialized metropolitan city while focusing on further improving citizens' lives.

Recently, regarding the nation's largest semiconductor mega cluster led by Yongin Special City, some regions and certain politicians have made arguments inconsistent with reason, citing power supply issues and proposing the relocation of Yongin Semiconductor Cluster elsewhere. There is no need to be swayed by politically motivated claims made with the upcoming local elections in mind, completely unfamiliar with the semiconductor industry's ecosystem and characteristics, and the details and pace of projects underway in Yongin.

As I detailed at a press conference on December 31, 2025, the theory of relocating Yongin's semiconductor cluster is merely groundless speculation and has faced criticism from numerous media outlets. Yongin Special City citizens and the vast majority of the Korean people are also bewildered by such claims. Yongin Special City will steadily continue its work.

I will concentrate all administrative resources this year to ensure that semiconductor projects, including the Yongin National Industrial Complex, continue to proceed well.

The successful establishment of Yongin's semiconductor mega cluster is the future of Yongin and the future of South Korea. I will not be swayed by any political turbulence and ensure this project proceeds without interruption.

The core projects to be promoted going forward are as follows:

I will strengthen the semiconductor ecosystem.

I will proceed with the creation of the advanced systems semiconductor national industrial complex in Idong and Namsa-eup as planned and swiftly support land compensation, site development, and licensing procedures so enterprises do not waste time.

I am accelerating the attraction of competitive materials, components, and equipment companies as well as fabless design companies to create a more powerful semiconductor ecosystem.

Additionally, in preparation for Yongin's future population exceeding 1.5 million, I will properly prepare comfortable residential spaces where all citizens can settle.

Rather than simply constructing buildings, I will establish the foundation of a premium city where work, leisure, and residence are harmoniously coordinated, creating a living foundation befitting a 1.5 million metropolitan city.

I will carefully design future urban spaces.

I will promptly finalize the 2040 urban master plan and prepare over 20 million pyeong of land acquired through deregulation of the Songtansansu source protection area and waterside zones around Gyeongan Stream for future industries such as semiconductors and AI and citizen residential spaces.

I will support swift promotion of major projects including Idong public housing district, a semiconductor-specialized new city, Platform City, and Eonam public housing district, and pursue balanced development between east and west.

I will continue activating existing city areas and enhancing the planning nature of old downtowns.

I will provide customized support for reconstruction and remodeling of aging planned cities, expand urban regeneration projects, and create an urban environment where citizens can live more comfortably and pleasantly.

I will continue expanding railroad and road networks.

I will not cease efforts to strengthen connectivity of the semiconductor mega cluster and dramatically improve citizens' commute convenience.

I will work to reflect the Gyeong-gang Line extension route and alternative central region express railway, Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railroad, and other projects in the 5th National Railroad Network Construction Plan.

I will continue dedicating myself to ensuring the Bundang Line extension project proceeds swiftly.

I will advance the Dongbaek-Sinbong line and light rail Gwanggyo extension already reflected in plans, and pursue efforts to establish new routes organically connecting Dongbaek, Eonam, Mabuk, Jukjeon, and Dongcheon.

I will not spare investment in education and living infrastructure.

I will prepare for the semiconductor high school scheduled to open in spring 2027 to open without delay and make it a cradle of talent development through Meister High designation. I will continuously pursue suggestions from 191 elementary, middle, and high school sites and create an environment conducive to studying through library upgrades including new library construction in Boseong and Sinbong-dong.

I will accelerate the creation of three landmark parks—Giheung Lake Park, Suji Central Park, and Idong Lake Park—and establish large-scale media art spaces in the Poeun Art Hall plaza.

I will swiftly complete expansion of barefoot walking trails to 67 locations, completion of the Gwanggyo Mountain trail (8km), and construction of the Bandabi and Gwanggyo Sports Centers.

I will focus on people's welfare and local economic revitalization.

I will expand alley-type shopping districts to 23 locations to strengthen the roots of local economy. I will increase together-caring centers to 31 locations and introduce family care allowances to fill care gaps. I will also dedicate myself to showing respect and providing welfare for national patriots and elderly citizens through expanded patriotic honor allowances and companion services for elderly citizens.

Dear 1.1 million citizens of Yongin Special City and approximately 3,500 civil servants!

Although domestic and international economic conditions are challenging, Yongin Special City's development cannot stop. It is time for all of us to run together so the city can leap higher this year.

I believe we must seize this opportunity for great transformation that has come to us and forge ahead well with Yongin's century-long vision.

We must strive to revitalize the economy, create more quality jobs for young people, and build a first-class city brimming with culture and dignity.

Creating the world's finest semiconductor mega cluster and a metropolitan-level city leading South Korea is not a task that can be accomplished by city civil servants alone.

It is possible only with the power and wisdom of the respected citizens.

I will work while seeking the wisdom and guidance of citizens to pass on a better city and superior living infrastructure to our future generations.

I and civil servants will strive to create a more livable city in the new year.

I request your continued interest and support.

In this year of the red horse, I wish you to make splendid plans and achieve all your aspirations.

Wishing you happiness in the new year.

Thank you.