Assemblyman Koo Jageun Secures National Electronic Glass Project Not Included in Government Plan

Gumi City Reshapes Its Advanced Industry Landscape
New 1 Billion Won in Government Funding Secured During National Assembly Budget Review
Final Selection for National Project Worth 14.3 Billion Won

Thanks to the efforts of National Assemblyman Koo Jageun (People Power Party, Gumi Gap) to secure budget funding, the city of Gumi has successfully attracted a national advanced industry development project worth 14.3 billion won.

This achievement is drawing attention from both the political community and the local industry, as the project was not included in the government's original budget plan but was revived during the National Assembly review process and ultimately selected for public funding.

Gu Ja-geun, Member of the National Assembly (People Power Party, Gumi Gap) [Photo provided by the office of the member]

Gumi City has been finally selected for the "Establishment Project for the Commercialization Base of Ultra-Precision Nano-Technology Applied Electronic Glass Components and Materials," which is promoted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

The project, running from 2026 to 2030, will invest a total of 14.3 billion won (including 10 billion won in government funding) to develop core technologies and build a commercialization base for electronic glass, a key material in the semiconductor, display, and mobility industries.

Assemblyman Koo's efforts to secure the budget were the starting point of this project.

Although the project was initially excluded from the government budget, last year, during the National Assembly's Special Committee on Budget and Accounts review, Koo strongly advocated for its necessity, resulting in the addition of 1 billion won in new government funding.

At the time, Assemblyman Koo pointed out that, despite the electronic glass industry being a core sector for future advanced industries, it was difficult for companies to independently establish expensive equipment and research infrastructure, and he called for a national support system.

His success in securing the budget laid the groundwork for the project, eventually leading to its selection in the latest Ministry of Industry competition.

The project will be carried out with the Gumi Electronics & Information Technology Research Institute at the center of the Gumi National Industrial Complex, and it will involve participation from the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, the Korea Testing & Research Institute, and others.

The project aims to build equipment infrastructure and a technical support system for the commercialization of ultra-precision electronic glass components and materials, thereby supporting companies’ research and development as well as commercialization efforts.

Conceptual Diagram of the Ultra-Precision Electronic Glass Component and Material Commercialization Support Center [Provided by the Office of the Assembly Member]

In particular, a survey of potential demand companies revealed that 67 out of 74 companies expressed their intention to participate, demonstrating a high level of interest.

Major Gumi-based companies such as LG Innotek, Waldeck, LB LuSem, and GH Advanced Materials are also expected to participate, raising expectations for strengthening the region’s industrial competitiveness.

Assemblyman Koo stated, "Although this project was not included in the government's proposal, I secured the budget at the National Assembly stage because I believed it was essential for the future industrial competitiveness of Gumi. This selection marks an important turning point for Gumi to become a key hub for the semiconductor and advanced materials industries."

He added, "I will continue to secure follow-up funding and oversee the project's progress to ensure the localization of core electronic glass technologies, enhancement of corporate competitiveness, and the creation of quality jobs."

Meanwhile, based on his experience as a secretary of the National Assembly's Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, Assemblyman Koo contributed to securing government funding for major projects such as the Gumi-Gunwi Expressway, the establishment of the Gumi Startup Hub Startup Field, and the construction of a demand-driven battery testbed, helping Gumi City secure a record-high 787 billion won in government funding last year.

The revival of a project initially excluded from the government budget at the National Assembly stage and its ultimate adoption as a national project is considered a prime example of Assemblyman Koo’s capabilities in budget and policy management.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.