Naju-si Accelerates Development of Power Semiconductor Industry

Naju City in Jeollanam-do is accelerating the development of the ‘power semiconductor industry,’ which is recognized as a global industrial issue and a core technology sector for national economic security.

According to the city on the 10th, power semiconductors refer to semiconductors that perform control and processing of DC-AC conversion, voltage, and frequency changes in electrical and electronic products.

Naju City held the inauguration ceremony of the Power Semiconductor Industry Promotion Committee on the 7th.
[Photo by Naju City]

They are mainly used in smartphones, laptops, and white goods, and recently, their application has been expanding widely to renewable energy, robotics, and electric vehicle sectors.

In particular, as the importance of reducing carbon emissions is emphasized due to global digitalization and eco-friendly policies, ‘power semiconductors,’ an efficient electrical energy conversion system, are emerging as a major issue in the industry.

However, the domestic infrastructure for power semiconductors is very insufficient, with over 90% of power semiconductors currently dependent on imports, posing challenges for related industry development.

The city plans to lead a super-gap technological innovation in the power semiconductor field based on the excellent industry-academia-research environment advantages, including the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) headquarters located in Bitgaram Innovation City, energy and power public enterprises, and Korea Energy Technology University (KENTECH).

To this end, the city launched the ‘Power Semiconductor Industry Development Committee,’ composed of the country’s top professors and experts in the field, as well as executives from related industrial associations, and held its first meeting on the 7th at the city hall’s Ihwa Room.

The committee members include Mayor Yoon Byung-tae, Lee Jae-nam, Chair of the Planning and General Affairs Committee of Naju City Council, Na Sang-in, Director of the Future Strategy Industry Bureau, Kim Song-hwan, Head of KEPCO Bitgaram Energy Valley Promotion Office, Ahn Ki-hyun, Executive Director of the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association, Kim Seo-gyun, Secretary General of the Korea Fabless Industry Association, and other experts from public institutions and industrial associations.

In addition, scientific and technological research faculty such as Moon Seung-il, Associate Professor at KENTECH, Kwak Joon-seop, Dean of Academic Affairs, Professors Jang Jae-hyung and Kang Hye-min, Professor Song Se-kyung of KAIST, Professors Park Jung-soo and Jung Jong-pil of Sungkyunkwan University, Professor Lee Joon-gi of Chonnam National University, Professor Jeon Hee-seok of Mokpo National University, and Professor Lee Tae-won of Dongshin University are also contributing.

Also included are company representatives such as Kang Dong-won of NexGen Power, Jang Dong-geun of SemiPowerrex, Park Kyung-shin of PJP Tech, Lim Il-gyun of Family Data, and Ko Jung-seok of DK Lab.

The inauguration ceremony included the presentation of appointment letters, the appointment of vice-chairmen and subcommittee chairs, a presentation on the necessity of fostering the energy semiconductor industry, and a discussion session.

Na Sang-in, Director of the Future Strategy Industry Bureau of Naju City, was appointed as the committee’s vice-chairman; Professor Park Jung-soo of Sungkyunkwan University was appointed chair of the Industry-Academia-Research Cooperation Subcommittee; and Professor Kwak Joon-seop of KENTECH was appointed chair of the Policy Planning Subcommittee.

Mayor Yoon Byung-tae said in his greeting, “It is an honor to join the country’s top power semiconductor experts at the first step of fostering the power semiconductor industry, which is a future growth engine for Naju and South Korea.”

He added, “I ask for your pivotal role in attracting demand companies and establishing research and demonstration infrastructure to create a next-generation high-efficiency power semiconductor ecosystem differentiated from other regions.”

Meanwhile, the city will accelerate efforts centered on the development committee to build cooperative relationships with overseas research institutions, discover and respond to power semiconductor industry policies that align with government policies and industrial trends.

It also plans to focus on establishing power semiconductor testing and demonstration infrastructure with KEPCO, KENTECH, and others, preparing research facilities for promising companies’ relocation, and nurturing customized talent for companies.

Furthermore, the city will seek multifaceted measures to foster fabless companies suited to the characteristics of power semiconductors, which require high technology and small-lot, multi-product production systems, as well as attract research facilities and companies to the Energy National Industrial Complex and the innovation city industry-academia-research cluster.

Naju = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Lee Han-hyuk baekok@asiae.co.kr

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.