Mayor-Elect Seong Suseok Welcomes Removal of 'Seoul Metropolitan Area Exclusion' from Semiconductor Act... Icheon to Become the Heart of the Mega Cluster

Mayor-Elect Seong Suseok Welcomes Removal of “Seoul Metropolitan Area Exclusion” from Semiconductor Law
Encouraged by Legislative Notice on the Revised Enforcement Decree
Unveils “9th Administration” Vision, Including Plans for MPE and Fabless Industry Clusters

With the sudden removal of the controversial “Seoul Metropolitan Area Exclusion Clause” from the Enforcement Decree of the Special Act on Semiconductors, Icheon in Gyeonggi Province, the home base of SK hynix, has declared a new leap forward for Korea’s semiconductor industry. Observers note that for Icheon—long hampered by restrictions on the capital region and repeatedly missing opportunities to expand its high-tech sector—this represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape the local economy.

Seong Suseok, Mayor-Elect of Icheon. Provided by Seong Suseok.

Seong Suseok, Mayor-Elect of Icheon, commented on the legislative notice regarding the revision of the Enforcement Decree, saying, “An abnormal situation, where Icheon was disadvantaged in being designated as a semiconductor cluster simply because it is part of the metropolitan area, has finally been rectified. I sincerely welcome the opening of a path for Icheon to participate as a proud leading player in the semiconductor mega cluster.”

Mayor-Elect Seong presented “Icheon as an Advanced Semiconductor Hub” as the core vision for the 9th popularly elected administration. The plan is not to remain merely a production base, but to establish a “semiconductor ecosystem hub” encompassing the entire semiconductor value chain—from design (fabless) to materials, parts, and equipment (MPE), as well as back-end processes (advanced packaging).

To achieve this, Icheon City plans to preemptively expand the essential infrastructure needed to operate semiconductor plants, such as water supply, electricity, and transportation networks. In particular, the city will strengthen its trusted relationships with global semiconductor equipment companies based in Icheon, including ASML, Applied Materials (AMAT), and Lam Research, while also attracting promising domestic MPE companies to establish an “R&D complex.”

An official from the local industrial sector said, “Many partner companies had hesitated to invest due to the restrictions on the Seoul metropolitan area. With this measure, we expect Icheon to be reborn as a true semiconductor special zone.”

Mayor-Elect Seong also emphasized “bipartisan cooperation” with broader local governments. He stated, “Icheon will take a leading role in collaborating on the ‘K-Semiconductor Mega Cluster’ project promoted by Gyeonggi Province Governor-Elect Choo Mi-ae. We will greatly expand professional workforce training programs in partnership with local universities and research institutions, to transform Icheon into a ‘vibrant semiconductor city’ that attracts young talent.”

He further stressed, “This decision is a mandate for Icheon to serve as the heart of the national economy and future industries. During the 9th administration’s term, I will transform Icheon into a world-renowned city for advanced semiconductors.”

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