Lee Kwonjae Unveils Game-Changing Move for "AI and Semiconductor SoBuJang Specialized City" with Launch of Practical Expert Advisory Committee

Lee Kwonjae, Mayoral Candidate for Osan, Unveils Vision for "AI and Semiconductor SoBuJang Specialized City"


Launch of "Quadruple Helix" Expert Advisory Committee


Practical Experts, Including Former Executives from Samsung and SK, Join in Force


Initiating Designation of SoBuJang Special Zone and Full-Scale Planning for Self-Sufficient City Linked to Saegyo 3 District

Lee Kwonjae, candidate for Mayor of Osan, made a decisive announcement regarding the composition and operation plans of an "Expert Advisory Committee" designed to effectively drive his key pledge of transforming Osan City into a specialized city for AI and semiconductor materials, parts, and equipment (referred to as "SoBuJang") by maximizing the city's geographical advantages.

Lee Kwon-jae, candidate for mayor of Osan City, is making a groundbreaking announcement regarding the establishment and operation plan of an "Expert Advisory Committee" that will practically drive the core pledge of “AI and Semiconductor Materials, Parts, and Equipment (SoBuJang) Specialized City” by maximizing the geographical advantages of Osan City. Photo provided by candidate Lee Kwon-jae

This advisory committee is notable for adopting a "Quadruple Helix" model, moving away from a simple, one-off committee of prominent figures to a practical, expert-driven structure. It is composed of professionals who can design actual semiconductor supply chains and break through regulatory barriers, representing industry, academia, research, and government sectors.

The advisory committee, as outlined by Lee, consists of four pillars.

For the industry pillar, retired executives from the mutual growth divisions of Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, as well as former executives from major SoBuJang companies such as Jusung Engineering, will participate to represent the voices from the field.

The academia pillar will include professors from semiconductor-specialized universities such as Kyonggi University, along with experts in AI accelerators and semiconductor process design, who will verify technical feasibility.

For the government and policy pillar, former directors in charge of semiconductors at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, as well as former directors of urban housing policy, will contribute their expertise to address administrative procedures and regulatory easing.

The advisory committee will immediately embark on four key missions aimed at transforming the future of Osan City upon its launch.

Lee’s campaign team has established a tightly organized operational process to ensure that the election pledges can move straight into the implementation phase if he is elected.

The advisory committee plans to follow a three-stage roadmap: ▲ a preparation stage, where the "Osan City AI and Semiconductor Master Plan" will be developed through quarterly plenary meetings; ▲ an execution stage, where three working groups—attraction, infrastructure, and talent development—will operate biweekly; and ▲ a results stage, focusing on "sales advisory," where the committee will directly brief potential companies on Osan's site advantages.

Notably, the operation of this advisory committee emphasizes a differentiation strategy from neighboring semiconductor hubs such as Hwaseong and Yongin. The plan is to establish Osan’s unique identity as an "intelligent semiconductor SoBuJang" city by combining its strength in AI software infrastructure with traditional manufacturing-focused materials, parts, and equipment.

During his previous term as mayor, Lee Kwonjae successfully attracted the world’s largest semiconductor equipment company, Applied Materials (AMAT) R&D Center, as well as Idemitsu Kosan, to Osan City.

Candidate Lee Kwonjae for Osan mayor is making a groundbreaking announcement about the composition and management plan of an 'expert advisory committee' that will practically drive the core pledge of the city, 'AI and Semiconductor Materials, Components, and Equipment Specialized City,' by maximizing the geographical advantages of Osan City. Provided by candidate Lee Kwonjae

In addition, the advisory committee will include urban planning experts to comprehensively design Saegyo 3 District as a "Jik-Ju-Rak" (a self-sufficient city where work, residence, and leisure are integrated), reflecting the requirements of semiconductor companies at the very beginning of the urban planning process.

Lee Kwonjae emphasized, "Osan is a geographically strategic hub located at the center of Hwaseong, Pyeongtaek, and Yongin," and added, "The newly launched Expert Advisory Committee will become the practical engine that elevates Osan from a mere bedroom community to the core brain city of Korea’s semiconductor cluster."

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