Clearing the Way for Semiconductor Complex Water Supply... Government to Ensure Timely Provision in Line with Corporate Investment Schedules

Ministry Reviews Water Supply Projects for Semiconductor Complexes in Honam and Yongin
Coordination with Related Agencies from Feasibility Studies and Design to Permitting and Securing Funding

The government is inspecting the status of infrastructure development to supply industrial water to the semiconductor industrial complexes in Yongin and the Honam region, in accordance with corporate investment schedules. The government aims to coordinate in advance with relevant agencies regarding investigations, design, regulatory approvals, and securing financial resources, so that water supply—essential for semiconductor facility operations—does not disrupt corporate investment timetables.

The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment announced on August 26 that Vice Minister Kim Han-seung presided over the Honam region's new semiconductor complex water supply status meeting at the Yeongsan River Basin Environmental Office. On August 27, a review meeting for the Yongin semiconductor complex integrated water supply project will be held at Yongin City Hall.

For the semiconductor industry, stable and large-scale water supply for production processes is essential. In particular, the industrial water supply projects for large-scale complexes require significant time, from securing water sources to constructing water facilities, and require the cooperation of multiple organizations including central government, local governments, and public institutions.

This is why the government checks the water supply plans prior to companies’ investment plans and the creation schedules of industrial complexes. If the development of water infrastructure is delayed, it could affect the actual operation schedule of the semiconductor manufacturing facilities, even if they are completed. Accordingly, the government plans to manage the timing of supply and corporate investment schedules in tandem from the early stages of the project.

Participants in the Honam region meeting on August 26 include Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City, Korea Water Resources Corporation, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, Korea Environment Corporation, and Korea Rural Community Corporation. The government will check the detailed business implementation schedules for each agency and discuss needed investigations, design, regulatory approvals, and ways to secure funding going forward.

The meeting in Yongin on August 27 will focus on reviewing progress of the Yongin semiconductor complex integrated water supply project, which has been underway since 2023. Gyeonggi Province, Yongin City, and Korea Water Resources Corporation will share information on the operating schedules for corporate semiconductor production facilities and the timing of water supply, and will review necessary cooperation requirements for regulatory approvals and other aspects of the business implementation process.

The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment plans to continuously monitor the progress of water supply projects at major semiconductor industry hubs to ensure essential infrastructure for corporate investment is built in a timely manner.

Vice Minister Kim stated, "For large-scale investments in the semiconductor industry to lead to actual production, it is paramount for key infrastructure such as electricity and water to be ready on time. We will work closely with relevant agencies to ensure the water required by semiconductor complexes is supplied seamlessly in accordance with corporate investment schedules."

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