Gumi Mayoral Candidate Kim Jangho Leads the Way into the ‘Semiconductor Fab Era’

On April 14, Kim Jangho, a preliminary candidate for Mayor of Gumi, announced attracting a semiconductor fab (Fab) as a core campaign pledge. Building on Gumi’s 2023 achievement of securing the only semiconductor-specialized complex outside the capital region, he aims to bring a semiconductor fab to Gumi and make it a new engine for innovative growth in the local industry.

In the semiconductor industry, a fab is an ultra-precise manufacturing facility where semiconductor chips are actually produced, standing at the heart of the industry. Moreover, industries related to equipment, materials, and components are diverse and massive, so their impact on the local industrial ecosystem is expected to be significant.

Kim emphasized, “Gumi is the city that wrote the first page of Korea’s semiconductor history,” adding, “Having a semiconductor fab return to Gumi is a natural outcome.” He explained that the history of Korea’s semiconductor industry began when Korea Toshiba (now KEC), the first company in the Gumi Industrial Complex, started producing transistors. “In 1970, President Park Chung Hee personally visited the Korea Toshiba factory to offer encouragement, making Gumi a strategic hub for the nation’s semiconductor industry,” Kim stressed.

Kim further stated, “Now, half a century later, Gumi has grown into a core hub for Korea's semiconductor industry, featuring a semiconductor-specialized complex and 344 world-class materials, components, and equipment companies,” he added.

Kim declared, “The destination for semiconductor companies is already decided-it’s Gumi.” He pointed out, “Just as TSMC in Taiwan has dispersed its manufacturing bases across four major hubs and Japan has established semiconductor clusters in both Hokkaido and Kyushu, the global trend is to distribute production bases. The Yongin Cluster faces structural limitations, with only a 40% power supply rate and a need for 2.1601 trillion won just to secure water supply.”

He continued, “Gyeongbuk’s power self-sufficiency rate is 228%, the highest in the country, while the water usage rate compared to available intake is only 31%.” He emphasized, “Samsung SDS and Quantum Eleven each decided to invest in AI data centers in Gumi because of the city’s and Gyeongbuk’s exceptional power and water infrastructure.”

(Left) Kim Jangho, Potential Candidate for Mayor of Gumi (Right) Gumi National 5 Industrial Complex Under Construction Photo by Kim Eehwan

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Kim also mentioned, “Recently, Professor Sangin Park from the Graduate School of Public Administration at Seoul National University stressed in a media interview that stages 2 and 3 of the Yongin Cluster should be partially decentralized to the provinces, similar to TSMC in Taiwan. I will prove that Gumi is the optimal location,” he said with confidence.

He further explained, “Gumi already has all the land, power, water, and administrative readiness needed. If a company makes the decision, I will personally ensure every possible support is provided.”

In fact, the City of Gumi is known to be able to immediately supply a total of 2.03 million pyeong (about 6.71 million square meters) of land.

There are various options: ▲Phase 2 of Gumi National Industrial Complex 5 (1.68 million pyeong), ▲Jangcheon General Industrial Complex (300,000 pyeong), which is being developed exclusively for a semiconductor fab, and ▲50,000 pyeong of idle land owned by Company L, which already has infrastructure such as clean rooms, a 154 kV power supply, and wastewater treatment facilities.

The conditions for power and water are also outstanding. Gyeongbuk’s power self-sufficiency rate is 228%, ranking first in Korea, and the annual surplus power alone is 56,031 GWh. The water usage rate in Gumi is only 31% compared to the available intake, ensuring stable supply even for large-scale fab operations.

There is also a system in place for the continuous supply of skilled professionals through semiconductor-specialized departments at 12 universities in the region, including Kumoh National Institute of Technology. In addition, Gumi boasts an unrivaled competitive edge among regional fab candidates, with 344 globally recognized semiconductor materials, parts, and equipment companies clustered there-including SK Siltron (world’s third-largest 12-inch wafer producer), LG Innotek (global No.1 in communication semiconductor substrates), and Magnachip (world’s second-largest display driver chip manufacturer).

Kim pledged, “For semiconductor fab investments, we will provide cash incentives and immediately implement a fast-track unified permit process and dedicated project manager system once a company decides to invest. We will also accompany investors throughout the pre-investment cycle with a comprehensive diagnostic package, ensuring full administrative support.”

During his four-year tenure as Mayor of Gumi in the 8th municipal government, Kim systematically built the foundation of the city’s semiconductor ecosystem.

In July 2023, Gumi was designated as the only specialized complex for semiconductor materials and components outside the capital region. In December 2025, it was included in the Southern Semiconductor Innovation Belt (Gumi, Gwangju, and Busan), establishing itself as a key axis of Korea’s national semiconductor strategy.

Kim also promoted five major semiconductor ecosystem projects:

▲Semiconductor Materials and Components Testing and Evaluation Center (39.6 billion won) ▲Testbed for Manufacturing and Verification of Semiconductor Equipment Chamber Materials and Components (35 billion won) ▲Demonstration Base for Advanced Defense Industry System Semiconductor Components (16.7 billion won) ▲Support Project for Specialized Semiconductor Universities (30 billion won) ▲Establishment of Gumi Advanced Semiconductor Research Complex (15 billion won, fully funded by the city), for a total of 136.3 billion won in semiconductor infrastructure projects launched in earnest.

Kim emphasized, “The seed of Korea’s semiconductor industry, which first sprouted in Gumi in 1969, blossomed with the successful bid for the only semiconductor-specialized complex outside the capital region in 2023. Now, by attracting a semiconductor fab, we will put the finishing touch and help Gumi bear fruit as the heart of Korea’s semiconductor industry.”

Meanwhile, during his tenure as Mayor of Gumi in the 8th municipal government, Kim has proven his expertise through tangible achievements in Gumi’s development.

He is recognized as an economic expert who has led six national projects-including the Defense Industry Innovation Cluster, semiconductor-specialized complex, and Opportunity Development Zone-as well as investments totaling 16 trillion won, such as the Samsung SDS AI Data Center. He is also regarded as a fiscal expert, having increased Gumi’s budget by 730 billion won in four years to achieve the highest growth rate in the province (up 48.2%) and ushered in the “era of a 2 trillion won budget.”

Additionally, Kim is considered a planning expert who has transformed Gumi-once a barren land for tourism-into a romantic cultural city visited by 1 million people annually by successively hosting the Ramen Festival, Food Festival, and Romantic Night Market.

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