Min Hyung-bae: "SK to Soon Announce 100 Trillion Won Investment Plan for Eastern Jeonnam"

Some AI Data Centers and Production Facilities Likely to Be Located in Eastern Jeonnam

Potential Increase in Gwangju Military Airport Semiconductor Fabs from Four to Nine

Government and Corporations Also Reviewing Industrial Land in Nam-gu, Naju, and Muan

On August 14, Min Hyung-bae, Mayor of Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City, announced that SK Group is expected to soon unveil a plan to invest approximately 100 trillion won in the eastern region of Jeonnam. He also mentioned that the number of semiconductor fabrication plants set to be established in the Honam Semiconductor Cluster could increase beyond the initially announced four.

Mayor Min stated during a closed-door meeting with the city council held in the Choui Room at the Muan Office of Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City Hall earlier that morning, "SK is expected to announce a large-scale investment plan of around 100 trillion won soon."

Min Hyung-bae, former Mayor of Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City, attended the 34th Cabinet Meeting held at the Blue House in Seoul on the morning of the 4th and proposed regional issues. Photo by Cheongwadae

Mayor Min commented, "There have been many remarks that the eastern region has been overlooked, and I hope these concerns can be somewhat alleviated," adding, "The company will disclose the specific details. These discussions have been ongoing for a long time, and today I felt it was appropriate to inform the council."

SK Group had previously announced a plan to invest 400 trillion won in the Honam Semiconductor Cluster to construct semiconductor fabs and artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, among other facilities. Of this, it was reported that some of the AI data centers and production facilities will be located in the eastern region of Jeonnam.

Mayor Min also mentioned that the number of semiconductor fabs planned for the Gwangju military airport site could increase from four to nine.

He said, "While it was previously said there would be four fabs, during discussions with Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) on power supply issues the day before yesterday, I asked Samsung Electronics, and it seems there will be a total of nine, with Samsung planning five and SK four."

Samsung Electronics and SK Group had previously announced that each would build two semiconductor fabs, for a total of four, at the Gwangju military airport site. Mayor Min's remarks suggest that both Samsung and SK might construct additional fabs at the military airport site and possibly other locations.

The government also announced at a Cabinet meeting on August 11 that it is considering expanding the size of the national semiconductor industrial complex at the Gwangju military airport site in response to corporate demand.

The Gwangju military airport site spans about 2.5 million pyeong, which is sufficient to accommodate more production facilities than the initially planned four fabs. Both the government and corporations are reportedly considering increasing the total to nine fabs after the first plant is expected to be established in 2029.

The review of industrial land sites is not limited to the national industrial complex candidate site at the Gwangju military airport. The government and participating companies in the Honam Semiconductor Cluster are also reportedly examining other industrial complexes in nearby areas such as Nam-gu in Gwangju, and Naju and Muan in Jeonnam.

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