Governor Choo Speeds Up Business Investment Environment Improvements, Including Raising Floor-Area Ratio for Samsung Electronics' Pyeongtaek Campus

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Gap-dong] Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae ordered an acceleration of efforts to improve the business investment environment, including rapid review, in response to Samsung Electronics' request for consultation on floor-area ratio relief exceptions for the Goduck Industrial Complex for the construction of the Pyeongtaek Campus (P5 FAB2).

Governor Choo directly presided over the '2nd Semiconductor Super-Gap Strategy Meeting' on the 15th and instructed active support for semiconductor-related issues, including propelling the semiconductor super-gap strategy—a key campaign pledge for the ninth civil administration—with momentum.

First, the province plans to support Samsung Electronics' consecutive facility expansion requests by expediting approval procedures as much as possible.

Governor Choo stated, "Semiconductors are Gyeonggi Province's top priority, with the fate of the Republic of Korea at stake. We must help companies apply for necessary permits quickly and process them at least one day sooner. Reflect the voice of the field directly in policy and carry out operational innovation transcending the boundaries of each department so that 'Gyeonggi Province, the No. 1 Economic Hub,' can be completed with semiconductors," with strong emphasis.

At the meeting, Governor Choo instructed the responsible department to conduct a rapid review of Samsung Electronics' request for consultation on floor-area ratio relief exceptions for the Goduck Industrial Complex for P5 FAB2 construction. Regarding the expansion of the research line (Fab) in the Hwaseong General Industrial Complex, she ordered active consultation with Yongin City to prepare support measures.

Additionally, as the start-up timing of the first fab in the Yongin Semiconductor National Industrial Complex has been moved forward from the original plan of 2031 to the second half of 2029, the province coordinated with related agencies to ensure seamless support for site development construction and consultations on agricultural and forest land conversion for water supply.

The Yongin Semiconductor National Industrial Complex requires 10GW of cumulative electricity by 2040, and with Samsung Electronics' first fab start-up moved up by two years, the province faces the task of resolving power infrastructure issues. Accordingly, the province decided to establish a mega-scale planned industrial zone promotion task force aimed at supplying 10GW of renewable energy by 2030 to build a renewable energy production base, and to review the creation of a 6GW-class long-cycle energy storage system (ESS) hub to flesh out renewable energy supply strategies.

Governor Choo also presided over the '1st Semiconductor Super-Gap Strategy Meeting' on the 10th and instructed related departments to "examine ways for Gyeonggi Province to proactively expand energy supply chains," focusing on resolving power infrastructure issues.

On-site communication between Governor Choo and companies will be strengthened to enhance the self-sufficiency rate of semiconductor materials, components, and equipment (materials, parts, and equipment) linked with global enterprises.

The province hosts numerous global materials, components, and equipment companies such as ASML, Applied Materials, Tokyo Electron, and KLA. Anchor companies including KC Tech, Komiko, Mico, and Mico Ceramic are also scheduled to move into the Anseong Dongshin Materials, Components, and Equipment Specialized Complex (1.2 million square meters). Governor Choo plans to meet with executives of these companies on-site to discuss ways to organically strengthen supply chains and listen to their difficulties.

In addition, the province is accelerating the composition of the 'Semiconductor Super-Gap Strategy Committee,' Governor Choo's first decision after taking office. The committee will be co-chaired by Governor Choo and private sector experts in the semiconductor field, and will consist of approximately 30 experts from industry, academia, research, and government. Through three divisions—planning and coordination, infrastructure, and ecosystem—it will serve as the control tower for semiconductor policy, ranging from policy suggestions to coordination of interdepartmental differences to resolution of current issues.

The province will establish the legal foundation for the committee through amendments to the Gyeonggi Province Semiconductor Industry Promotion and Support Ordinance. Before the ordinance is amended, the province plans to form and operate the 'Semiconductor Super-Gap Strategy Promotion Task Force' first to address urgent issues. The committee's official launch is scheduled for the end of September.

The province plans to promptly pursue four tasks discussed at the strategy meeting: △supporting investment by anchor companies including Samsung Electronics △expanding basic infrastructure such as power and water supply △strengthening the ecosystem of materials, components, and equipment △improving governance.

A provincial official stated, "The greatest change in the ninth civil administration's semiconductor policy is gathering semiconductor issues that individual departments have been addressing separately into a meeting body directly under the governor and coordinating them with momentum. We plan to continue monitoring implementation status at the next strategy meeting so that resolving corporate difficulties, creating infrastructure, and fostering the ecosystem form a virtuous cycle," the official said.