[Specialized Complex] Future Cars in Gwangju and Daegu, Bio in Osong... Five Specialized Complexes for Materials, Parts, and Equipment Designated

Additional Designation of SoBuJang Specialized Complex After 2 Years and 6 Months
New Corporate Investment of Approximately 6.7 Trillion KRW

Five additional specialized complexes for materials, parts, and equipment (SoBuJang) have been designated as the complexes expand into new fields such as future cars and bio. This is the first designation since the initial SoBuJang specialized complexes were established in February 2021, marking two and a half years. Approximately KRW 6.7 trillion in new corporate investments are expected to be made in the development of these specialized complexes.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the 20th at the 'Materials, Parts, and Equipment Competitiveness Enhancement Committee' that it will newly designate SoBuJang specialized complexes to create supply chain ecosystems for future cars and bio, and to strengthen the supply chains for power semiconductors and semiconductor equipment, which are weak points in the semiconductor ecosystem.

Accordingly, five specialized complexes were selected: Gwangju (future cars), Daegu (future cars), Chungbuk Osong (bio), Busan (semiconductors), and Gyeonggi Anseong (semiconductors).

Designation of New Specialized Materials, Parts, and Equipment Complex.
[Photo by Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy]

First, the future car specialized complexes will promote self-reliance and internalization of core parts expected to have high demand due to the transition to future cars such as autonomous and electric vehicles (e.g., electric vehicle motor self-reliance rate from 50% to 90%). In Gwangju, the plan is to promote the clustering of the value chain related to perception sensors, control parts, and communication systems, which are core functions of autonomous vehicles. In Daegu, the plan is to establish a complete supply chain from core materials to the driving module, which is the functional unit of electric vehicle motors, covering permanent magnets → driving motors → driving modules. Investments of approximately KRW 1.9 trillion and KRW 1.5 trillion are planned for Gwangju and Daegu, respectively.

The bio specialized complex aims for self-reliance in raw and subsidiary materials essential for the manufacturing process of pharmaceuticals (cultivation → purification → finished product), such as vaccines, as the global bio-pharmaceutical market has grown significantly after COVID-19. In Chungbuk, there are about 70 SoBuJang companies related to bio raw and subsidiary materials, along with major demand companies such as LG Chem, Daewoong Pharmaceutical, and GC Green Cross, with about KRW 1.6 trillion in investments planned.

The semiconductor specialized complexes will promote the strengthening of the domestic semiconductor ecosystem, including semiconductor equipment and power semiconductors. In Busan, considering the transition of core materials for electric vehicle power conversion devices from silicon (Si)-based to compound (SiC, GaN)-based, the domestic ecosystem will be developed. In Anseong, a supply chain ecosystem including materials (slurry, ceramics) → parts (flow control, etc.) → equipment will be established by clustering many companies related to polishing and cleaning processes.

Key Details of Five New Specialized Substrate, Material, and Component Complexes.
[Provided by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy]

The government will support the creation of the specialized complex ecosystem by assisting joint research and development (R&D), testbeds, commercialization between demand and supply companies, support for technology self-reliance and reshoring companies, local investment, and attracting companies within the complexes. It will also form promotion teams for each specialized complex to provide one-stop support for regulatory improvements and corporate requests.

Additionally, the seven advanced strategic industry specialized complexes announced today and the five newly designated SoBuJang specialized complexes will be operated to complement each other in fostering the domestic SoBuJang ecosystem and securing global competitiveness.

Lee Chang-yang, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, stated, "We will spare no support in all aspects such as permits, infrastructure, and R&D to ensure that the specialized complexes designated today become a strong growth engine for our economy." He added, "We will activate the newly established 'Materials, Parts, and Equipment Supply Chain Center' from June and establish the 'Industrial Supply Chain 3050 Policy' in the second half of this year to promote systematic supply chain management."

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