A national control tower directly overseeing the semiconductor industry under President Lee Jae-myung will be launched. With the implementation of the Special Semiconductor Act in August, the "Special Committee for Strengthening Semiconductor Industry Competitiveness," chaired by the president, will be inaugurated. The government aims to make the Honam semiconductor cluster a reality within President Lee's term, benchmarking the case of Kumamoto, Japan.
"When the Special Semiconductor Act takes effect on Aug. 11, the Special Committee for Strengthening Semiconductor Industry Competitiveness, chaired by President Lee, will be launched," Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik said at a Presidential Office briefing held immediately after the Mega Project National Report Session on Tuesday. "These three mega projects are signature initiatives representing our government and a historic task, and we have a firm will to ensure their success."
Kang also signaled that President Lee would personally oversee the progress of the projects. "We aim to complete the foundation work within two years, as in Kumamoto, Japan, and have companies begin building their plants," he said.
"Until now, building a domestic semiconductor cluster has taken more than nine years, but this time we will take on the challenge with the goal of completion within this government's term," he explained. "To this end, the president will personally preside over meetings and oversee the project."
The government decided to form a government-wide task force (TF) for each corporate investment project and to designate a dedicated officer at the Presidential Office as well. The plan is to accelerate projects by providing one-stop support across the entire investment process, including permits and regulations, and power and water supply.
An explanation followed regarding the background of the government's choice of Honam as the second semiconductor production hub after Yongin. The Presidential Office determined that Honam is an optimal location, as it can distribute the power and water burden of the capital region's semiconductor cluster while offering relatively inexpensive sites, abundant renewable energy and excellent research infrastructure.
Kang also drew a line under the "water shortage" concerns raised in some quarters. He explained that combining 110,000 tons from the Jangheung Dam, 80,000 tons from the Dongbok Dam, 50,000 tons from the Seomjingang Dam, along with volumes that have been allocated but remain unused, would make a supply of more than 1 million tons possible.
"We are also reviewing whether agricultural water can be supplied stably," Kang stressed. "The government is not so incompetent as to make an announcement without even confirming the water supply."
In particular, he assessed the investment by Samsung Electronics and SK hynix as having brought down the "semiconductor southern limit line." "This investment has proven that large-scale advanced industries are possible even outside the capital region," Kang said. "Starting with the Honam region, relay national report sessions and corporate investment announcements will continue in the Chungcheong and Yeongnam regions."
The Presidential Office plans to expand the capital-region-centered advanced industry map nationwide through this mega project. The plan is to strengthen both balanced national development and industrial competitiveness by establishing a second semiconductor production hub in Honam, fostering semiconductors, displays, secondary batteries and bio in the Chungcheong region, and defense and aerospace industries in the Yeongnam region.
