Government Accelerates Yongin Semiconductor Megacity... Special Support for Special City Designation

Promotion of 'Special Act on Support for Special Cities' to Expand Special Privileges for Special Cities like Yongin
Yoon: "Investing 500 trillion won in Yongin... Advanced companies and talents will grow in Yongin"
Expansion of railway and road networks including semiconductor expressway opening and National Road No. 45 expansion
Establishment of the first Semiconductor Meister High School in the metropolitan area... Creation of a retirement silver town

The government is set to enact the 'Special Act on Support for Special Cities (tentative name)' to transform Yongin into the world's largest semiconductor mega cluster hub. The aim is to rapidly establish the foundation for a semiconductor megacity by expanding the benefits of special city status. Detailed plans for building railway and road networks, such as the construction of a semiconductor expressway and the expansion of National Road No. 45, were also disclosed.

On the morning of the 25th, President Yoon Suk-yeol presided over the 'Public Livelihood Discussion with the People' at Yongin Special City Hall, mentioning the amount of private investment attracted for the creation of the semiconductor megacity. He promised support, stating, "Out of the 622 trillion won investment, about 500 trillion won is expected to be invested in Yongin, where advanced companies and talents will grow within Yongin's semiconductor cluster."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the 23rd Public Discussion on Livelihoods with the People held on the 25th at Yongin Special City Hall, Gyeonggi Province, under the theme "Korea's New Growth Engine Hub, Yongin Special City."
[Photo by Presidential Office]

The government decided to expand the benefits of four major special cities, including Yongin Special City, Suwon, Goyang, and Changwon, through the enactment of the 'Special Act on Support for Special Cities.' Although it has been two years since the launch of special cities, the central government and provincial governments have yet to transfer the authority befitting the 'special cities' that effectively perform metropolitan administration.

First, special provisions in the construction and architecture sectors will increase. For example, the requirement for the governor's approval when the mayor of a large city establishes or changes the basic plan for remodeling multi-family housing, or the priority acquisition rights for rental housing granted to city/provincial governors, will be revised. The current system requiring the governor's prior approval for building permits for high-rise buildings is also included in the improvements.

Additional special administrative tasks for special cities will be added. Previously, the nine special administrative tasks transferred to special cities represent only about 10% of the 86 special administrative tasks requested for transfer by the Special City Support Council, composed of four special cities and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, to the central and metropolitan governments in July 2021. There is also a lack of autonomy in personnel and financial management necessary for task transfer, and plans are underway to establish grounds for special administrative and financial support.

Although President Yoon personally emphasized expanding the benefits of special cities, the focus of the support measures announced that day is on fostering the semiconductor industry. The core is to shorten the approval process for the relocation of upstream and downstream companies to create a semiconductor cluster centered on the Yongin Semiconductor National Industrial Complex. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to prepare relocation plans for more than 70 existing companies located in candidate sites for the industrial complex, aiming to start construction by 2026. Options under consideration include relocating to unsold land within nearby industrial complexes, allocating cooperative sites within the national industrial complex candidate site, establishing separate alternative relocation industrial complexes, and providing individual relocation support for each company. Additionally, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy plans to prepare power supply measures, such as building transmission lines, to ensure companies do not face inconveniences once relocation plans for existing companies are finalized.

All support measures will be devoted to constructing the semiconductor expressway. This project will connect approximately 45 km from Hwaseong through Yongin to Anseong by expressway, centered on the semiconductor mega cluster. Currently, the Korea Development Institute (KDI) is conducting a private investment feasibility study to assess the appropriateness of private investment methods. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to proceed with follow-up procedures such as strategic environmental impact assessments as soon as the study passes.

National Road No. 45, one of the main arterial roads of the Yongin Semiconductor National Industrial Complex, will be expanded and opened in line with the first semiconductor factory operation planned for the end of 2030. It will be widened from four lanes to eight lanes. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will promptly proceed with follow-up procedures such as preliminary feasibility studies and inclusion in the five-year plan for national and local roads. Regarding railways, the GTX (Great Train Express) A line will stop at Guseong Station (Yongin) starting in June.

The public housing district in Yongin, the hinterland city, will be transformed into a high-tech new town with a live-work-play concept. This district is located near multiple advanced industrial complexes, including the national industrial complex, SK Hynix Yongin Semiconductor Cluster, and Yongin Techno Valley (Phases 1 and 2). The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to strengthen quality living infrastructure so that advanced talents can work, enjoy, and live near their residences.

Mid- to long-term support for semiconductor talent development will also begin. The Ministry of Education will cooperate with the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education to designate a semiconductor high school in the Gyeonggi region and plans to support the education office's application for Meister High School designation in the future. If designated as a Meister High School, a budget of 5 billion won will be provided for school preparation, and education programs tailored to industrial demand will be possible.

Regulations on the establishment of public museums and art galleries will also be improved to strengthen cultural activities for local residents. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to improve the pre-assessment system for the feasibility of establishing public museums and art galleries, allowing local governments to independently review feasibility before proceeding with establishment. Additionally, considering the increasing demand for relocation to provinces, the government will explore creating complex towns integrating service facilities and residential spaces. The goal is to build residential complexes where silver generation and youth generation can coexist in a shared living area while maintaining independent living, similar to Singapore's 'Kampung Admiralty.' To respond to regional extinction, the government plans to discuss with related ministries to start projects in population-decreasing areas with high relocation demand but insufficient infrastructure. President Yoon stated, "Before taking office, I visited Yongin and promised to make Yongin Special City an advanced science city and a city leading Korea's development," adding, "We will actively promote the plan to create the world's largest semiconductor mega cluster centered on Yongin."

Aerial view of Yongin Semiconductor Cluster. [Source=Government]

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