Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, has joined the race to attract semiconductor production facilities from Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. After the government released the companies' investment plans for Honam, the city rolled out a support plan to supply industrial land at 1,000 won per pyeong.
On the 25th, Gumi Mayor Kim Jang-ho held a press conference at Gumi City Hall and said, "To attract investment in the semiconductor industry, we will actively review an unprecedented support package that includes a plan to supply phase 2 sites in the Gumi National Industrial Complex district 5 at around 1,000 won per pyeong."
Kim also said, "The Gumi National Industrial Complex is the optimal location," adding, "Because the semiconductor industry is a core strategic industry that will determine the country's future, what matters most is market competitiveness and industrial efficiency."
Kim further promised, "To attract semiconductor fabs, we will provide investing corporations with top-tier incentives and administrative support nationwide."
Gumi is said to have a total of 820,000 pyeong of industrial land available for sale. The city set a goal to first raise 600 billion won, the price for 400,000 pyeong of sites, through issuing local government bonds and restructuring expenditures, and then to attract two semiconductor manufacturing plants.
Kim unveiled this bold support plan just one day after the government released its official announcement of semiconductor investments in Honam on the 24th. It signals an intention to actively move to attract semiconductor production facilities.
Kim stressed that Gumi is the "best site" that meets the requirements for semiconductor production facilities. He said, "North Gyeongsang has an energy self-sufficiency rate of 228%, the highest level in the country," adding, "We have surplus power sufficient to supply roughly five to six semiconductor plants each year." Kim also said, "As Yeongdeok County was selected this year as the site to build two large nuclear power plants, we will be able to supply the power needed for semiconductor plants even more stably." In other words, they have ample power required for semiconductor production.
Gumi has recently moved to expand its semiconductor industry ecosystem. It is promoting projects such as creating an advanced semiconductor research complex, establishing a testing center for semiconductor materials and parts, and building a manufacturing and verification test bed for materials and parts used in semiconductor equipment chambers.