Gumi has launched a follow-up response after the government recently presented a vision to develop the North Gyeongsang city into a "manufacturing AI transformation (AX) innovation hub" centered on robotics and semiconductor materials, parts and equipment, through its "National Report on the Development Vision for Advanced Industries in the Yeongnam Region."
According to Gumi on Wednesday, Samsung Electronics and Samsung SDS announced investment plans totaling 19 trillion won in Gumi at the National Report on the Development Vision for Advanced Industries in the Yeongnam Region held in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, on Saturday.
The main plans include establishing a mass-production line for "physical AI humanoid robots," fully upgrading the existing Gumi facility into a manufacturing AX-based "AI-driven factory," and building a new advanced AI data center, transforming Gumi into a global manufacturing innovation hub.
The government also plans to fully support dedicated research and development (R&D) for the three core robot components — actuators, sensors, and others — in step with Samsung's investment, aiming to lead Korea into becoming one of the world's "top three robot powers."
At the same time, the government said it would build a semiconductor materials-parts-equipment and defense-specialized semiconductor testbed to develop Gumi into a next-generation semiconductor materials-parts-equipment innovation hub.
In response, Gumi plans to establish detailed strategies by sector in line with the government policy and Samsung's large-scale investment, and to provide full administrative support.
First, the city will create a dedicated task force (TF) for the robotics sector to actively support Samsung's investment and form a consultative body involving universities, research institutes, and companies to prepare industry development strategies.
In addition, as the government stated it would develop Gumi into a hub for semiconductor materials-parts-equipment and defense semiconductors, the city decided to accelerate the selection of its "Advanced Semiconductor Materials and Components Manufacturing Complex Project" — which it has continuously proposed to the government — as a target for a preliminary feasibility study.
In particular, the city is actively pushing the "Advanced Defense Industry System Semiconductor Component Demonstration Infrastructure Project" to secure core defense semiconductor technologies where localization is urgent, with import dependency reaching 99%.
Furthermore, as Gumi is an optimal site for semiconductor fab investment with water, power, land, and workforce all in place, the city will continue to pursue attracting a fab without giving up.
In line with the government policy to nurture aerospace and the defense industry as future growth engines for the Yeongnam region, the city will actively foster a defense ecosystem and defense companies based on collaboration with top domestic defense system companies such as Hanwha Systems and LIG D&A.
To this end, the city plans to actively propose to the government the prompt designation of the "Defense Industry Materials-Parts-Equipment Specialized Complex," which it applied for in April.
"Gumi's advanced infrastructure and 50 years of manufacturing know-how have met Samsung's future vision," Gumi Mayor Kim Jang-ho said. "We will make robotics, semiconductors, defense, and AI Gumi's new growth engines and enhance Korea's global industrial competitiveness."
