Jeonnam Gwangju Selected for First National Project as an Integrated Special City: 'Quantum Cluster'

Establishing a Quantum Communication Hub Connecting Gwangju, Naju, Haenam, and Goheung
Investing 140 Billion Won Including National Funding Over Four Years Starting in 2027

Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City will establish a quantum communication industry hub connecting the Gwangju High-Tech Science Industrial Complex with Naju, Haenam, and Goheung. From 2027, a total of 140 billion won—including 100 billion won of national funding—will be invested over four years. This is the first nationally funded project selected since the launch of the Integrated Special City.

The Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City announced on September 1 that it was ultimately selected as the candidate site for the quantum communication sector in the Ministry of Science and ICT’s 'Quantum Cluster Designation Public Project.'

Quantum cluster development plan diagram. Provided by Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City

The Quantum Cluster is a national project that integrates quantum technology with regional key industries and connects companies and research institutes in the fields of computing, communication, and sensing. The Jeonnam Gwangju Quantum Cluster will be developed from 2027 to 2030.

The Gwangju High-Tech Science Industrial Complex will serve as the central hub, responsible for technology development, manufacturing, evaluation, and demonstration. In Naju, Haenam, and Goheung, demand and demonstration centers will be established tailored to the needs of their regional industries.

Gwangju will focus on developing materials, components, and equipment required for quantum communication and verifying their performance. Naju will target power grid and energy security; Haenam will apply quantum technology to artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing (HPC), and data security; and Goheung will apply quantum technology to the fields of space and satellite communication.

The Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City explained that the integration of Gwangju’s optical communication and photonic materials industry base with Jeonnam’s energy, space, and aerospace facilities scored highly in the public project evaluation. Quantum communication is a technology that uses the properties of photons—the smallest unit of light—to encrypt and transmit information.

The project will involve Gwangju Technopark, Jeonnam Technopark, Korea Photonics Technology Institute, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Chonnam National University, and others. Companies such as SK Broadband, KEPCO KDN, ID Quantique, Wooriro, Korea Advanced Materials, and OE Solution will also participate.

The Integrated Special City plans to foster 60 companies transitioning to and applying quantum technology by establishing an industry base that links technology development with product manufacturing and commercialization.

The project will also nurture 400 specialists. Specialized degree and master's and doctoral programs in quantum technology will be established at local universities, and practical training will be offered for workers in the photonics, semiconductor, and artificial intelligence sectors.

Min Hyungbae, Mayor of Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City, stated, "We will create an ecosystem where quantum technology can be practically applied in industry by linking the foundations of artificial intelligence, energy, and photonics convergence industries."

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