Leading SoBuJang Company DH Autoware to Invest 100 Billion KRW in Gwangju

Gwangju City-DH Autoware-KT Agreement... Collaboration for Future Vehicle Transition
DH Autoware Pyeongtaek Plant Relocates to Bitgreen Industrial Complex
Building Completion in October, Full Operation by March Next Year

Gwangju Mayor Kang Ki-jung is taking a commemorative photo after signing a business agreement with DH Autoware and KT on the 27th to promote the specialized materials, parts, and equipment complex. On the left in the photo is Lee Jung-kwon, Chairman of DH Group.
Photo by Gwangju City

Gwangju Metropolitan City (Mayor Kang Gi-jung) signed a business agreement on the 27th at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center with leading companies DH Autoware Co., Ltd. and KT to successfully promote the Gwangju autonomous vehicle materials, parts, and equipment (SoBuJang) specialized complex.

This is an expansion measure following the agreement with leading companies LG Innotek and Korea Alps upon the launch of the SoBuJang specialized complex promotion team last September.

Attending the agreement ceremony were Mayor Kang Gi-jung, DH Group Chairman Lee Jeong-kwon, DH Autoware CEO Ji Tae-soo, KT Jeonnam-Jeonbuk Corporate Customer Headquarters Head Kim Yong-nam, and Executive Director Park Jun-hee.

According to the agreement, these companies will participate as leading companies in Gwangju's SoBuJang, establishing a cooperative system for the future vehicle transition of local parts companies and localization of autonomous vehicle parts, leading the development of new technologies and new products.

Gwangju City was designated as an autonomous vehicle SoBuJang specialized complex in July last year, selecting recognition (sensor), control, and communication technologies as specialized fields. Gwangju City consulted with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on detailed support plans for the specialized complex, with the electronic components company DH Autoware participating in the 'control' field and Korea's leading telecommunications company KT participating in the 'communication' field.

DH Autoware Co., Ltd. will invest 100 billion KRW in the Gwangju SoBuJang specialized complex by 2028 to develop and mass-produce autonomous driving electronic components. KT plans to raise the localization rate of SoBuJang in the autonomous driving communication field to 70% by 2030.

DH Autoware currently operates an automobile jig production facility with a total floor area of 7,895㎡ (2,388 pyeong) in the Bitgreen National Industrial Complex. In particular, the company is promoting the relocation of the electronic components division of its Pyeongtaek plant in Gyeonggi Province to Gwangju, purchasing an additional 14,916㎡ (4,512 pyeong) in the Bitgreen National Industrial Complex to build a factory. The building is scheduled for completion in October, with equipment installation to follow, and full operation is planned to begin in March next year.

Once the Pyeongtaek plant is fully relocated and the factory begins operation next year, DH Autoware plans to newly hire about 200 local talents.

Established in 1979, DH Autoware is an electronic components company specializing in the production of car audio and navigation systems. In 2022, its sales amounted to approximately 370 billion KRW, with 405 employees.

Mayor Kang Gi-jung of Gwangju said, “I believe DH Autoware and KT will be a great force in helping Gwangju advance as a future vehicle hub city,” and added, “To ensure the success of this agreement, Gwangju City will strive to make Gwangju a business-friendly city first.”

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