Gwangju Main Customs Office Seeks Customs Support Solutions with Export Companies

Industrial Restructuring Centered on Semiconductors and Robotics

Tailored Support Measures in Focus

Companies Call for "Easing Bonded Factory Regulations and Expanding Expedited Customs Clearance"

As the government's advanced strategic industry development policy is expected to reshape the industrial landscape of the Honam region, the Gwangju Main Customs Office met with major export companies in semiconductors, shipbuilding, and chemicals to discuss ways to improve customs clearance and bonded factory systems, as well as to address on-site challenges.

On the 10th, the Gwangju Regional Customs Office held a meeting with practical workers from export companies in bonded factories related to semiconductors, shipbuilding, and chemicals in the local area at the seminar room on the 3rd floor of the government building. Provided by Gwangju Regional Customs Office

On July 10, the Gwangju Main Customs Office held a meeting in the seminar room on the third floor of its headquarters with practical workers from bonded factory operating companies in the local semiconductor, shipbuilding, and chemical sectors. During the session, the office introduced the main support systems of the "One-Stop Customs Administration Support Team for Advanced Strategic Industries" newly established at the Pyeongtaek Customs this year, as well as regulatory innovation measures for the bonded processing system.

This meeting was organized to inform companies about customs administration support measures they can use in line with increased investment in advanced industries, and to directly hear about difficulties they experience in the field.

The government recently announced its plan to foster semiconductors, physical AI (robots), and AI data centers as national growth engines through the "Korea's Great Leap Forward: Three Mega Projects." As a result, four memory semiconductor production lines (fabs) will be built in the southwestern region, while a robot foundry and parts cluster will be established in Saemangeum. With the addition of the secondary battery and shipbuilding equipment industries in South Jeolla, and the clean bio and cosmetics industries in Jeju, the jurisdiction of the Gwangju Main Customs Office is expected to be reorganized around advanced industries.

In response to these changes, the Gwangju Main Customs Office plans to provide tailored customs administration suited to regional characteristics. For semiconductor production hubs, the office will offer consulting on establishing new bonded construction sites and bonded factories for new companies and support expedited customs clearance. In areas adjacent to Saemangeum, support will include designating comprehensive bonded areas.

Additionally, to reduce the administrative burden on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the office introduced the "Autonomous Management Bonded Factory for SMEs" system, which streamlines management procedures for companies that meet certain requirements. The core purpose of this system is to support SMEs, which often lack sufficient manpower and administrative capacity, in operating bonded factories more efficiently.

The office also introduced the "Authorized Exporter System," which increases the utilization of free trade agreements (FTAs). Authorized exporters recognized by customs for their ability to certify origin can issue certificates of origin themselves, enabling smoother application of preferential tariffs under FTAs.

During the meeting, companies also presented improvement tasks they experience on the ground.

Practical suggestions from companies included the liberalization of procedures to adjust bonded factory facilities, streamlining of export declaration withdrawal procedures, and expansion of expedited customs clearance. The Gwangju Main Customs Office plans to share these suggestions with relevant departments and work with the one-stop support team to reflect them in future system improvements.

Kang Taeil, Director of the Gwangju Main Customs Office, stated, "Taking these mega projects as an opportunity, we will strengthen support for customs clearance and customs administration so that the newly established advanced strategic industries can be stably rooted in the region and existing key industries can grow together. We will continue to communicate with industrial sites and devise support measures that companies can truly benefit from."

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