The government is promoting the enactment of a special law for creating 'RE100 national industrial complexes' this year to achieve its key national tasks of developing energy new towns and realizing Korea as one of the top three countries in artificial intelligence (AI).
On the 25th, Jeonnam Haenam County announced that it held a policy forum on 'Solar Si-do AI, Energy New Towns, and RE100 Industrial Complex Creation' on the 22nd at the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises auditorium in Seoul, with over 100 participants from the National Assembly, government departments, public institutions, industry, and academia.
The forum was organized as a venue for strategic policy discussions on responding to climate crises and achieving carbon neutrality under the theme 'The future of green smart new towns where AI meets RE100.'
At the forum, Hwang Joon-ho, executive director of BS Group, who is promoting 'Solar Si-do,' the largest public-private partnership urban development project in Korea, alongside Haenam County and Jeollanam-do, presented on 'Strategies for Creating RE100 Industrial Complexes and Attracting Global Export Corporations.'
The Korea Economic Research Institute presented on the potential of 'Solar Si-do AI Energy New Town Vision and Promotion Strategies' as a data center and AI infrastructure hub, along with proposals for establishing power grids and energy self-sufficiency infrastructure.
Participating in the discussion, Professor Cho Hong-jong of Dankook University stated, 'To ensure the success of RE100 industrial complexes, a one-stop solution for permits from various ministries at the central government level is necessary, and a total package approach that simultaneously establishes comprehensive infrastructure, including roads, power grids, and solar power, is needed.' He suggested that for Solar Si-do to develop into a leading area for RE100 and carbon neutrality, the attraction of corporations must be supported by exceptional tax incentives and improvements in living conditions from local governments.
The forum emphasized that Solar Si-do is the optimal location for establishing RE100 industrial complexes. Solar Si-do can reduce transmission costs by directly supplying electricity produced from a neighboring 5.4GW large-scale solar power complex, which translates into discounted electricity rates for resident corporations.
Additionally, it has secured stable industrial water essential for advanced industries such as AI data centers and stability against natural disasters, enabling corporations that need to comply with RE100 and CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) to minimize operational risks.
Solar Si-do was designated as a development special zone in June last year, securing tax reduction benefits such as corporate tax, acquisition tax, and property tax. It is evaluated that if linked with the government's 'zero regulation for RE100 industrial complexes' policy, it could gain an advantage in attracting global corporations.
Mayor Myung Hyun-kwan of Haenam remarked, 'Solar Si-do is not just a local development; it is a new national strategic base leading the era of carbon neutrality,' and added, 'Through close cooperation with the government, Jeollanam-do, and industry, we will strive to make Solar Si-do a hub that leads Korea's realization of RE100.'
Park Ji-won, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated, 'With abundant renewable energy, excellent industrial water, and stability against natural disasters, Solar Si-do, which meets all the necessary conditions, can not only be designated as an RE100 national industrial complex but also serve as a key driver in revitalizing and developing the Jeonnam regional economy, and I will actively support this at the National Assembly level.'
A representative of Solar Si-do noted, 'Based on the policy proposals discussed at this forum, we plan to intensify our efforts to assist global export corporations, attract investments, and establish advanced infrastructure linked with government policies.' He added, 'We will successfully implement a future-oriented model of AI and energy new towns blending RE100 industrial complexes and AI infrastructure.'
Meanwhile, the government plans to push forward a long-term roadmap for creating an RE100 ecosystem by designating RE100 national industrial complexes and establishing support systems in the first half of next year. In relation to this, Solar Si-do is pursuing the establishment of large-scale solar power complexes, a venture business start-up complex linked with the national AI computing center, and the construction of autonomous mobility systems, along with investment attraction activities for the AI infrastructure.