Sang-il Lee Discusses Semiconductor Industry Cooperation with U.S. Osceola County Delegation

[Suwon Ilbo=Ki-ho Choi] Yongin Special City Mayor Sang-il Lee held a meeting with a delegation from Osceola County, Florida on the 23rd at the city hall video conference room to discuss cooperation measures in advanced future industries including semiconductors as the delegation seeks to develop next-generation technology sectors.

The meeting was attended by approximately ten participants including Mayor Lee and city officials, as well as Osceola County Chair Cheryl Grieb, Economic Development Director Hunter Kim, and PlugandPlay Semiconductor Vice President Jessica Kim.

The meeting was held at the request of the Osceola County delegation, which has been strengthening semiconductor industry capabilities by attracting semiconductor manufacturer Skywater Technology and semiconductor-focused venture capital firm PlugandPlay Semiconductor, and wished to hear about Yongin City's progress as it advances toward becoming a global semiconductor hub and explore mutual cooperation measures.

Located in central Florida, Osceola County ranks sixth among Florida's 67 counties with a population of 430,000 and an area of 3,901 square kilometers.

Osceola County is developing 'Neocity,' America's first planned new city by local government. Through cooperation with world-class research institutions and companies such as Seoul National University Global R&D; Center and BRIDG, a private-public semiconductor nonprofit research institution, Neocity is focusing resources on advancing next-generation technologies including semiconductors, smart sensors, optics, and nanotechnology.

Within a site spanning approximately 2.02 million square meters, a public science high school has been opened to cultivate talent specialized in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Florida has clusters of semiconductor, aerospace, and defense industries, and with lower corporate tax rates compared to other regions, major tech companies like Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft as well as startups are relocating there, making Florida one of the regions receiving attention in the United States. The state has also developed tourism industry, with Walt Disney World in Orlando achieving the top ranking for tourist visits in the nation as of 2022.

Mayor Lee stated, "We welcome the Osceola County delegation's visit to Yongin as they strengthen fourth industrial revolution competitiveness in the United States," and continued, "When the 'Yongin Advanced System Semiconductor National Industrial Complex' with Samsung Electronics investing 360 trillion won to construct six semiconductor fabs across 2.2 million pyeong in Yongin's Dongbu and Samsa-eup areas, and the large project where SK Hynix invests 122 trillion won to build four fabs across 1.26 million pyeong in Wonsam-myeon are completed, Yongin will become a city with the world's largest semiconductor ecosystem as a single city."

The mayor stated, "A few months ago, a Williamson County, Texas delegation visited and signed a memorandum of understanding on friendly exchange and cooperation with Yongin," and added, "Samsung Electronics is building a semiconductor factory in Taylor, Williamson County, but the national industrial complex being created by Samsung Electronics in Yongin is more than 10 times the scale of the Taylor facility."

Osceola County Chair Cheryl Grieb said, "I appreciate you making time despite your busy schedule," and continued, "Osceola County is strengthening investment in semiconductors and advanced IT industries centered on Neocity, and I hope we can cooperate closely with Yongin City to lead development of both countries and both cities."

Mayor Lee directly briefed on the city's semiconductor industry status centered on the 'L-shaped semiconductor belt' and stated, "Approximately 150 materials, parts, equipment, and design companies are expected to enter Samsung Electronics' semiconductor industrial complex, and according to one media report after the industrial complex plan was announced, a total of 399 companies have either moved to or expressed hope to move to Yongin." He explained, "Approximately 50 materials, parts, and equipment companies will be located in SK Hynix's Yongin Semiconductor Cluster, and Samsung Electronics' Giheung Campus, which first produced semiconductors in Korea 41 years ago, will be transformed into a future research complex researching next-generation technologies."

Chair Grieb said, "The mayor's forward-looking leadership is impressive," and continued, "We want to activate the semiconductor industry through Neocity just like Yongin City. Let us cooperate actively going forward."