The South Korean presidential office has officially decided to establish a major southwestern semiconductor cluster at a military airport site in Gwangju, aiming to construct four semiconductor facilities funded by Samsung Electronics and SK hynix at a cost of 800 trillion won ($522 billion). During a public-private inspection meeting, President Lee Jae Myung strongly emphasized that speed is everything in the global competition for advanced industries, urging the government to bypass administrative delays, streamline procedures like environmental impact assessments, and handle land acquisition efficiently to complete the project within his term ending in June 2030. The Gwangju military airport site was selected by the participating companies as the most suitable location in the greater Jeolla (Honam) region due to its massive 8.2-square-kilometer area, pre-leveled land, proximity to downtown Gwangju and the KTX station, excellent logistics access, and government ownership, which simplifies compensation procedures. Announcing the site location just one week after the project's inception was also intended to curb real estate speculation in the area. However, the primary challenge to the project's timeline is the relocation of the military airport, a long-stalled issue since 2007 that faces local opposition from Muan County in South Jeolla. Muan residents and local authorities are demanding the prior relocation of Gwangju’s civilian airport, financial support totaling 1 trillion won from the newly integrated Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City and the central government, and significant national incentives. While the government has not yet disclosed a specific timetable or method for this transfer to ensure national security remains unaffected, officials are exploring ways to utilize approximately 2.1 square kilometers of the site that can be cleared immediately, potentially allowing the construction of one or two fabs before the full military relocation is finished. The integration of Gwangju and South Jeolla, which took effect this month, is expected to help accelerate these negotiations. Additionally, President Lee instructed the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment to address corporate concerns regarding the continuous baseload power required to operate the fabs around the clock, as the region’s abundant renewable energy might not suffice, prompting officials to suggest that additional nuclear power plants could ultimately be necessary. The Gwangju cluster is part of three regional megaprojects unveiled on June 29 that focus on semiconductors, physical AI, and AI data centers. To ensure steady progress and coordinate ministerial differences, the presidential office announced that public-private inspection meetings will be held monthly, a dedicated oversight organization will be established, and a senior official will be appointed to manage each project, while also pledging to accelerate land compensation, electricity, and water infrastructure for the ten separate fabs planned for the Yongin semiconductor cluster. (ICE SEOUL)

Fonte notizia: KOREA JOONGANG DAILY