Min Hyungbae: "Gwangju Military Airport Site Is the Best Location for Semiconductor Complex... Now It's Time for the Integrated Metropolitan City to Prove It"

Welcoming the Government’s Decision: “Entering the Implementation Stage Under Direct Presidential Oversight”

Working-Level Support Team and Strategy Committee Launched for Military Airport Relocation

“Definite Location for Companies, Overwhelming Growth Results for Citizens”

With the site of the Gwangju military airport confirmed by the government as the location for the southwestern semiconductor industrial complex, Min Hyungbae, former mayor of Gwangju-Jeonnam Integrated Metropolitan City, welcomed the decision, calling it "a great and historic determination by the Lee Jaemyung administration," and pledged full support at the integrated metropolitan city level.

At a press conference held in the briefing room on the 5th floor of Gwangju City Hall on the afternoon of July 6, Mayor Min stated, "Today, the presidential office announced its decision to establish a semiconductor industrial complex in the southwestern area of the Gwangju military airport site," adding, "I deeply appreciate the swift and responsible decision by President Lee Jaemyung and the government, and together with 3.2 million citizens of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Integrated Metropolitan City, I warmly welcome this development."

Mayor Min emphasized, "Speed is of the essence for the Honam semiconductor cluster," adding, "Companies are demanding a definite site where construction can begin quickly, and citizens are waiting for the results of overwhelming growth." He continued, "In order for semiconductor investments to lead to actual production plants and jobs, we must find the fastest, most realistic, and most scalable path forward."

Min Hyungbae, former mayor of Jeonnam Gwangju Metropolitan City, is announcing his position on the decision to establish a semiconductor industrial complex in the southwestern region of the Gwangju military airport site at the briefing room on the 5th floor of Gwangju City Hall on the 6th. Photo by Song Bohyun

Referring to his on-site inspection of the Gwangju military airport site on July 3, Mayor Min said, "If the airport is simply relocated, the military airport site becomes the optimal location for a semiconductor plant," and evaluated it as "the most realistic solution with a large area, fast development potential, and scalability." However, he noted, "The military airport is directly linked to national defense and security functions, and its relocation has long remained a local challenge," adding, "Because national defense and security functions, transport and logistics systems, corporate investment schedules, and citizen expectations are intricately intertwined, this is no easy task."

He continued, "Today's government announcement is an expression of the nation's determination to unravel this difficult tangle," and added, "It is a clear signal that the president himself is now overseeing the implementation stage of the Honam semiconductor cluster development."

Mayor Min mentioned that President Lee Jaemyung emphasized the importance of "the capacity and determination of local governments" on this day, and said, "Now it is time for the Gwangju-Jeonnam Integrated Metropolitan City to demonstrate that capacity and determination."

Mayor Min explained, "The Gwangju-Jeonnam Integrated Metropolitan City Council enacted its first ordinance as the 'Ordinance Bill on Support for Global Semiconductor Strategic Investment in Gwangju-Jeonnam Integrated Metropolitan City,' and the integrated metropolitan city also launched the 'Gwangju-Jeonnam Semiconductor Strategy Committee' to establish a responsive system." He added, "A working-level support team for the military airport semiconductor industrial complex was also immediately formed at City Hall." He continued, "If the government played the powerful and fast locomotive role, now the ball is in the court of the integrated metropolitan city," and said, "In line with the government’s military airport relocation and industrial complex development, we will meticulously and swiftly prepare for the supply of electricity and water, the establishment of transportation and logistics networks, talent development, and residential conditions."

Mayor Min stated, "We will not fall behind in the government's race for speed," and pledged, "We will ensure steadfast security, not neglect the lives of citizens and the interests of the region, provide companies with a secure location, and return the results of overwhelming growth to the citizens." He concluded, "Together with the Lee Jaemyung administration, the Gwangju-Jeonnam Integrated Metropolitan City will achieve this, and we will make the Honam semiconductor cluster a definite success."

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