Kim Dong-yeon: "Gyeonggi Province Will Be a Strong Supporter for Yongin Semiconductor Cluster"

[Suwon Ilbo = Reporter Kim Gap-dong] Governor Kim Dong-yeon of Gyeonggi Province, who presented a solution to the power shortage at the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster, visited the site on the 23rd and said, "Gyeonggi Province will be a strong supporter for the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster."

Governor Kim conducted his 29th livelihood economy field tour (Daldalbus) on the morning of the 23rd, visiting the site office of the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster General Industrial Complex being developed in Wonsam-myeon, Cheowin-gu, Yongin, and held a business leaders forum with SK Hynix officials and partner company representatives while inspecting the industrial complex development site.

The forum was attended by National Assembly Member Lee Sang-sik, Vice Mayor Hwang Jun-gi of Yongin Special City, SK Hynix Yongin CPR Vice President Park Ho-hyun, SK Ecoplanet Vice President Jang Hyo-sik, and partner company CEOs.

At the forum, the power supply solution for the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster announced by Governor Kim the previous day was mainly discussed. On the 22nd, Governor Kim signed a "Memorandum of Understanding on Establishing a Cooperative Framework for Joint Road-Power Grid Construction" with KEPCO to establish a power grid underground along the newly constructed Provincial Road 318 Yongin-Icheon section spanning 27.02 kilometers.

Governor Kim said, "Gyeonggi Province has made many efforts to solve the power supply issue at the semiconductor cluster, and yesterday we achieved results by creating a new and innovative power supply plan. I came here today with the hope of sharing good news with the Yongin industrial complex. With this plan, we have solved the final puzzle for resolving the power supply issue at the Yongin General Industrial Complex. Gyeonggi Province will continue to do its best as a strong supporter to solve all issues including power supply and water supply problems at the semiconductor cluster."

At the forum, messages of gratitude for resolving the power supply issue at the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster followed.

Kwon Won-taek, President of KC Tech, one of the companies operating in the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster, said, "There have been many difficulties since the Yongin Cluster began. After about five years, I am grateful for bringing good news early this year," and added, "The Yongin Cluster was one of the dreams of all semiconductor workers. Thank you for giving us hope."

Im Young-jin, CEO of Justem, also expressed agreement with Gyeonggi Province's power supply plan, saying, "Thank you for providing a good solution," while Lee Jong-rim, President of SNS Tech, said, "The Yongin General Industrial Complex was a long-cherished project, and I am happy to see it progressing well. We will become small seeds of grain so that the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster can succeed."

Lee Jun-woo, CEO of Orosphere Technology, said, "In this era of self-sufficiency, materials, parts, and equipment suppliers are very important. If we cannot secure competitiveness here through political logic, Korea will have no future," and added, "At this best time to create a semiconductor cluster and for small material and parts suppliers to be right next to it, you provided a good solution, and for that I am grateful."

Jang Hyo-sik, Vice President of SK Ecoplanet, said, "The Yongin Semiconductor Cluster is being well prepared with active cooperation from Gyeonggi Province and related organizations."

Subsequently, provincial assembly members of Gyeonggi Province also pledged cooperation for the success of the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster.

Provincial Assembly Members Nam Jong-seop and Jeon Ja-young said, "The Gyeonggi Province Assembly will actively support the semiconductor cluster so that it is properly developed. Coming here today, I gained expectations and hopes that we can confidently complete the Yongin semiconductor cluster well," they said.

Vice Mayor Hwang Jun-gi of Yongin added, "I deeply admire Governor Kim Dong-yeon's capabilities, whom I respect."

After the forum, Governor Kim moved to the industrial complex development site with Vice President Park and inspected the construction site. Governor Kim personally wore a helmet and received a report on the progress at the site, then met with reporters to exchange questions and answers regarding the "Memorandum of Understanding on Establishing a Cooperative Framework for Joint Road-Power Grid Construction" signed with KEPCO on the 22nd.

■ Gyeonggi Province and KEPCO Sign "Memorandum of Understanding on Establishing a Cooperative Framework for Joint Road-Power Grid Construction"

To secure the missing 3GW out of the 6GW of electrical equipment capacity needed for the general industrial complex operated by SK Hynix, the province presented a plan to KEPCO for expansion using the underground space of newly constructed roads and signed an agreement. Under the agreement, Gyeonggi Province will be responsible for road paving and land acquisition for Provincial Road 318, and KEPCO will jointly carry out power grid construction work beneath the road.

By conducting power works together with road construction on the new road, the road construction period is shortened by 5 years and project costs are reduced by approximately 30%, which is evaluated as a groundbreaking method that simultaneously solves cost reduction and the urgency of power grid supply.

Meanwhile, the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster General Industrial Complex is being developed with a scale of 4,155,996 square meters (1.26 million pyeong) in Wonsam-myeon, Cheowin-gu, from March 2021 to December 2027. The current project progress rate is 77.4%. In 2021, it was designated as a specialized industrial complex for semiconductor materials, parts, and equipment, and in 2023, it was designated as a semiconductor national advanced strategic industry specialized complex. Going forward, Gyeonggi Province plans to continue site-oriented administration that packages support for key investment factors including permits, infrastructure, human resources, and ecosystems.