Goyang Council Member Kil Jongseong Calls for Semiconductor Specialized High School and Revamp of Electric Scooter Management

Proposal to Establish Semiconductor Departments and Industry-Academia Collaboration System

Call for Expansion of Designated PM Return Zones, Incentives, and Sanctions

Goyang City Council member Kil Jongseong (People Power Party - Ilsan 1-dong, Tanhyeon 1·2-dong) has called for the establishment of a semiconductor specialized high school as a future growth engine for Goyang, as well as for a preventive, safety-focused management plan for personal mobility (PM) devices.

Assemblyman Kil Jongseong is asking a municipal question at the plenary session of the 307th Goyang City Council temporary session held on the 21st. Provided by Goyang City Council

During a municipal administration question at the 307th Goyang City Council extraordinary session held on the 21st, Assemblyman Kil stated, "The cultivation of semiconductor talent is an investment that will determine the success or failure of Goyang as a self-sustaining city in ten years, while the management of personal mobility devices is a matter of prevention, aiming to address risks before accidents occur."

Assemblyman Kil pointed out that, although world-class semiconductor clusters are forming in areas such as Yongin, Pyeongtaek, and Icheon, and nearby Paju is nurturing its semiconductor and display industries, Goyang has a weak foundation for related industries. Despite having excellent universities, research institutions, and capital region accessibility, the city has failed to lay the groundwork for nurturing talent and is unable to overcome the limitations of being a "bedroom community."

Currently, about 3,600 students graduate annually with majors related to semiconductors in Korea, while the hiring demand from companies such as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix is estimated at over 10,000 people per year. The industry projects that there will be a shortage of about 50,000 semiconductor professionals by 2031.

Assemblyman Kil cited the case of Chungbuk Semiconductor High School, which achieved a 96.4% employment rate for the 2024 academic year, and Gyeongju Technical High School, where the admissions competition ratio rose from 0.88:1 to 1.67:1 after converting to a Meister high school.

He proposed attracting or establishing a specialized semiconductor high school, stating, "If Goyang is to leap forward as an advanced self-sustaining city, it must urgently establish an educational foundation to foster semiconductor talent beginning at the high school level." He suggested that if establishing a new school would take time, semiconductor-related departments should first be introduced in existing specialized or local high schools, and a school–industry cooperation program involving local universities and businesses should be operated.

In response, Goyang City Mayor Min Kyungseon said, "It is important to establish a virtuous cycle in which youth who have received semiconductor education remain in Goyang and connect to local jobs," and promised active consideration.

Assemblyman Kil also insisted that the management approach for electric scooters and shared bicycles needs to shift from post-incident towing to proactive, preventive-oriented management.

Currently, about 5,000 electric scooters and 3,700 shared bicycles are operating in Goyang. Assemblyman Kil pointed out that devices abandoned on sidewalks, tactile paving, apartment entrances, and in front of subway stations pose safety threats to pedestrians, especially the visually impaired and children. He also mentioned the fatal electric scooter accident that occurred in Ilsan Lake Park in 2024.

Assemblyman Kil suggested expanding designated return zones, integrating GPS and rental apps to provide incentives such as fare discounts or mileage to users who return devices to the designated locations. He also argued that users who habitually abandon devices without permission or rental companies that neglect their management responsibilities should face staged sanctions such as use restrictions and additional charges.

Mayor Min announced that the city will expand relevant infrastructure and establish incentives and sanctions after referencing the experiences of other local governments.

Assemblyman Kil said, "Goyang should not be a city that only responds after problems become severe, but one that prepares for the future in advance." He urged, "For the completion of a self-sustaining city and the safety of citizens, I call on the mayor and related departments to make a policy decision."

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