World's Largest Yongin Semiconductor Cluster 'Speed Race'..."Construction to Start by End of 2026"

Early Groundbreaking of Yongin National Industrial Complex by Late 2026
Won Hee-ryong: "Gathering Companies, Capital, and Talent in Yongin"
Samsung Electronics: "Leap to a Top-Tier Semiconductor Company"

The government will advance the groundbreaking schedule for the Yongin National Industrial Complex site development from 7 years to within 5 years. It plans to promptly establish infrastructure supply measures such as power and water, complete the preliminary feasibility study within the year, and shorten the duration of various impact assessments (environmental, disaster, traffic) through prior consulting.

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong announced the plan for the early commencement of the Yongin National Industrial Complex at the 3rd Pan-Government Promotion Support Group Meeting for the Success of the Yongin Advanced System Semiconductor National Complex held on the 27th at Samsung Electronics Giheung Campus in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. / Photo by Noh Kyung-jo

On the 27th, Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated at the '3rd Pan-Government Promotion Support Group Meeting for the Success of the Yongin Advanced System Semiconductor National Complex' held at Samsung Electronics Giheung Campus in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, "We aim to make Yongin the center of the semiconductor ecosystem."

Minister Won emphasized, "Major global economic powers are staking their lives on securing semiconductor competitiveness from an economic security perspective, and we have no way to escape that wave. We must first secure the 'strategic stronghold' of future semiconductor competitiveness where companies, capital, and talent gather." He also described the government's announcement in March to establish the Yongin National Industrial Complex as a major decision to provide spatial positioning.

He continued, "We plan to expand the ecosystem, which has been concentrated on existing memory semiconductors, to design (fabless), materials, parts, and equipment (SoBuJang), and system semiconductors, nurturing it into a high value-added sector. We also aim to attract financial and legal services to Yongin. By organically linking with production bases in Hwaseong and Pyeongtaek, we will build a mega cluster encompassing even post-processing," he said.

Earlier, in March, the government announced plans to create the world's largest 'semiconductor mega cluster' on 7.1 million square meters in Namsa-eup, Yongin City. This is the world's largest foundry (semiconductor contract manufacturing) line with an investment amount of 300 trillion won.

The target groundbreaking date is set for the end of 2026. Following the selection of Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) as the project operator in April, the plan is to complete the preliminary feasibility study and industrial complex plan application and approval within 2025, followed by about a year of compensation work.

On the 27th, at Samsung Electronics Giheung Campus in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi Province, Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, is giving up his seat to Kyung Kye-hyun, President of Samsung Electronics DS Division, during the "3rd Pan-Government Promotion Support Group Meeting for the Success of Yongin Advanced System Semiconductor National Complex." From the left, Lee Han-jun, President of LH, Lee Sang-il, Mayor of Yongin, President Kyung, Minister Won, and Kim Dong-yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province. / Photo by Yonhap News

Regarding power supply, which is crucial for industrial complex operation, a comprehensive plan will be prepared including the construction of power generation facilities within the complex and reinforcement of transmission lines. According to Samsung Electronics, the power required for the Yongin National Industrial Complex is estimated to be 0.4 gigawatts (GW) by the end of 2030 and over 7 GW by 2042. Water, estimated to be 650,000 tons per day, will be additionally secured by utilizing Hwacheon Dam upstream of Paldang Dam and reusing sewage from nearby areas. Minister Won said, "We will closely cooperate with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Environment."

Once completed, the system semiconductor cluster will attract more than five advanced semiconductor manufacturing plants of Samsung Electronics, venture companies, SoBuJang companies, and research institutions, totaling 150 entities. Kyung Kye-hyun, President of Samsung Electronics DS Division, said, "To maintain an edge in the fierce global semiconductor competition, it is urgent to start construction early on the new Yongin National Industrial Complex and proactively secure production capacity (CAPA). We will devote ourselves to leap forward as a top-tier semiconductor company using the Yongin National Industrial Complex as a stepping stone."

In response, Minister Won said, "We are actively resolving factors that delay the complex development speed. Cooperation with not only Gyeonggi Province but also local governments is necessary. I hope we can become one team and provide active support."

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