Gwangsan District in Jeonnam Gwangju Begins Preparing for the Semiconductor Era: "Fast Track for the Region"

Over 50 Representatives from Various Sectors Discuss Industrial and Urban Response Strategies
Emphasis on Early Establishment of Talent Supply Systems and Spatial Strategies
Calls for Greater Resident Participation and System Improvements

The first Citizens’ Joint Meeting was held to discuss how to transform the future of Gwangsan District in light of the government's planned 800 trillion won semiconductor cluster project in the Honam region. Participants from various sectors, including business, labor, youth, academia, and residents, agreed that the district must go beyond simply attracting industry and simultaneously prepare for talent development, living environment improvement, and urban space reorganization.

Gwangsan District of Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City announced on the 22nd that it held a "Citizens’ Joint Meeting on Responding to the Semiconductor Cluster Formation" at Yoon Sangwon Hall in the district office on the 21st.

Over 50 participants attended the meeting, including representatives from business, labor, small business owners, education and academia, youth, residents, and experts in urban planning, environment, real estate, and housing.

The participants agreed that, since the government is pushing forward with the Honam Semiconductor Cluster on the site of the Gwangju Military Airport with mass production targeted for 2030, the region must simultaneously prepare its industrial base, workforce, and residential environment.

On the 21st, Gwangsan District of Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City held the "Semiconductor Cluster Formation Citizen Joint Meeting" at Yunsangwon Hall on the 7th floor of the district office to discuss future development strategies. Provided by Gwangsan District

Hongjin Choi, principal of Gwangju Software Meister High School, noted, "Seventy percent of our graduates find jobs in the Seoul metropolitan area. I expect that the formation of the semiconductor cluster will create quality jobs and provide young people with the conditions needed to settle in the region."

Donghyuk Cho, Youth Policy Coordination Committee member for Gwangsan District, stated, "To connect the impact of large corporate investment to local jobs, we must also devise strategies to attract materials, parts, and equipment companies."

Local-level response tasks were also proposed, focusing on industrial infrastructure, talent development, shared growth for the local economy, and improvements in the living environment.

Yoonseong Lee, head of the Chonnam National University Industry-University Cooperation Foundation, commented, "If four fabrication plants are established, it is expected that approximately 23,000 employees will be needed. A ‘fast track’ system for talent development that aligns with the industrial timeline is also essential."

Sunggu Jeong, CEO of the Urban Contents Institute, suggested, "We should first develop a spatial strategy unique to Gwangsan District by analyzing the impact of the semiconductor cluster on the city, and integrate it with the plan to establish the national industrial complex."

There were also calls for proactive urban planning in key strategic areas such as the Gwangju Songjeong Station district, the site of the Kumho Tire Gwangju Plant, and the Gwangju Military Airport area.

Demands for increased resident participation continued as well. Youngcheol Ki, head of the Residents’ Delegation for Military Noise Impact Assessment, remarked, "Urban strategy should not simply be something residents accept, but rather a process in which they actively express opinions and take part."

Suggestions were also made that, in order to expand Gwangsan District’s role, financial authority should be enhanced through measures such as converting the district into a city.

Going forward, Gwangsan District plans to support the formation of the semiconductor cluster by focusing on licensing assistance, identifying local proposals, collecting citizen opinions, and establishing basic infrastructure. The district also intends to continue social dialogue in which citizens participate in shaping the city's future strategies together.

Byungkyu Park, head of Gwangsan District, stated, "The 800 trillion won investment is an opportunity to redesign Gwangsan District’s future. We will gather wisdom with our citizens to create good jobs and a city that is pleasant to live in."

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