With the government's announcement on plans to build a regional semiconductor cluster imminent, investment outlines by Samsung Electronics and SK hynix in the Honam region are also coming into view. Samsung Electronics has picked Gwangju Advanced District 3 as a new semiconductor base and entered final coordination, while SK hynix is understood to be in last-minute review of options between Jangseong in South Jeolla and overseas investment.
According to the government, political circles, and the semiconductor industry on the 26th, Samsung Electronics is said to be fleshing out its investment plan for the Honam area centered on Gwangju Advanced District 3 and is coordinating details. Industry sources see Samsung Electronics as closely considering a plan to build memory chip production facilities in the Gwangju–South Jeolla region.
Gwangju Advanced District 3 has the advantage of linking with artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure such as the national AI data center and an AI convergence complex, and it can secure large industrial sites. In particular, it is being evaluated as capable of future expansions based on the shared living area and transportation network that spans Gwangju and Jangseong in South Jeolla.
Multiple officials said, "Samsung Electronics has settled on an investment direction centered on Gwangju Advanced District 3," and added, "We understand final coordination is underway with the government on detailed support measures."
By contrast, SK hynix has not yet finalized its investment location. SK hynix is reportedly reviewing Jangseong in South Jeolla as a leading candidate while also examining an overseas option, comparing profitability, customer demand, and subsidies in a comprehensive manner.
Jangseong shares a living area with Gwangju Advanced District 3 and is rated highly for its connectivity to research infrastructure such as the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) and the national AI data center. Its strengths also include ample room to secure large sites and expand in the future, along with access to South Jeolla's abundant solar and wind renewable energy base and transmission/substation infrastructure. However, SK hynix is said to be reviewing domestic and overseas investment plans together, considering global customer response, overseas subsidies, and investment efficiency in a comprehensive way.
The government is pursuing a plan to build a southern semiconductor belt linked to the national balanced development strategy of "5 hubs and 3 special autonomous provinces." At the "Korea grand leap three mega projects national briefing" to be held at the Blue House on the 29th, large-scale investment plans by regional hubs are expected to be unveiled, including a Honam semiconductor cluster, a Chungcheong AI data center, and a Yeongnam physical AI initiative.
An industry official said, "As the government's balanced development policy aligns with corporations' mid- to long-term investment strategies, a new map of regional high-tech industries is being drawn," and added, "If a Honam semiconductor cluster becomes a reality, notable changes are expected in the domestic semiconductor industry landscape, which has centered on the Seoul metropolitan area and the Chungcheong region."