Gyeongsangnam-do Attracts KRW 2.643 Trillion from 17 Companies ... Tops KRW 10 Trillion for Second Straight Year

Companies are pouring investment into Gyeongsangnam-do's key industries, including manufacturing, shipbuilding, nuclear power, and aerospace.

On October 20, Gyeongsangnam-do held the "2026 Gyeongsangnam-do Investment Promotion Briefing" at The Westin Josun Seoul, securing investment agreements worth KRW 2.643 trillion and plans to create 850 new jobs.

This is the largest investment total ever secured at a single event since the investment promotion briefing was launched in 2009.

As a result, Gyeongsangnam-do's cumulative investment attraction total for this year rose to KRW 10.5728 trillion, surpassing last year's record of KRW 10.402 trillion. The province has now attracted more than KRW 10 trillion in investment for two consecutive years.

Officials who signed investment agreements at the 2026 Gyeongsangnam-do Investment Briefing pose for a commemorative photo. [Photo courtesy of Gyeongsangnam-do]

The investment agreements expanded into future industries, including aerospace, satellites, artificial intelligence (AI), energy storage systems (ESS), clean energy, medical and biotechnology, smart logistics, and tourism, exhibitions, and meetings (MICE), alongside established key industries such as shipbuilding and nuclear power.

In established key industries, Samsung Heavy Industries plans to invest in shipbuilding equipment at Chilseo General Industrial Complex in Haman. Doosan Enerbility has fleshed out plans for a large-scale advanced-industry investment in Changwon.

In the aerospace sector, Hana Aerodynamics will invest KRW 40 billion at the Jinju Aerospace National Industrial Complex and hire 20 people. SI Aviation will also invest KRW 5 billion in Jinju and hire 10 new employees.

S&K Aviation plans to invest KRW 15 billion and hire 20 people; U&I E&C plans to invest KRW 11 billion and hire 10; and TelePIX plans to invest KRW 10 billion and hire 10. Each of these investments will be made in Sacheon.

Space Pro, a company based in Miryang, will invest KRW 60 billion in the aerospace sector in Sangnam-myeon, Miryang, and hire 60 new employees.

The "2026 Gyeongsangnam-do Investment Promotion Briefing" is being held at The Westin Josun Seoul. [Photo courtesy of Gyeongsangnam-do]

In the clean energy sector, BioGreen will invest KRW 65 billion at the Miryang Nano Convergence National Industrial Complex to expand the supply of green methanol, a clean fuel for ships.

SL Electric will invest KRW 42 billion in precision machinery, including energy storage systems (ESS), at Haman General Industrial Complex and hire 80 people.

In the port and logistics sector, Dongwon Global Terminal Busan will invest KRW 200 billion at the western container terminal of Jinhae New Port in Changwon and hire 88 people.

In the tourism, exhibitions, and meetings (MICE) sector, Daewon Plus Group plans to invest KRW 260 billion in the Singi 2 District in Yangsan and hire 180 new employees.

In the biotechnology and materials sector, Young Chemical has agreed to invest KRW 100 billion in the Ungdong District in Changwon and hire 60 people.

Won Geudaerojin will invest KRW 10 billion in the Sancheong Oriental Medicine and Anti-Aging Industrial Complex to establish a food and biotechnology production base. The company plans to build a hub spanning production, distribution, and exports by establishing food production facilities that use its patented drying process.

Gyeongsangnam-do Governor Park Wansu delivers opening remarks at the 2026 Gyeongsangnam-do Investment Promotion Briefing at The Westin Josun Seoul. [Photo courtesy of Gyeongsangnam-do]

Gyeongsangnam-do said that it has worked to identify investment opportunities by making customized investment proposals to individual companies and holding ongoing consultations on site, with the goal of becoming a key hub for advanced industries in South Korea. It also said it has worked with cities, counties, and relevant organizations to remove obstacles to investment, including permitting issues.

The province plans to strengthen administrative support to ensure that large-scale investments proceed without disruption. It will also actively support the expansion of these investments through the growth of partner companies and additional investment in related industries, with the aim of strengthening the competitiveness of local industries and creating high-quality jobs.

In addition, the province plans to strengthen investment incentives, expand the maximum area of Opportunity Development Zones, and pursue investment attraction strategies tailored to each industry. It will also focus on post-agreement management, including regularly monitoring investment implementation after agreements are signed.

Governor Park Wansu said, "Regarding the large-scale investment plan announced by the government last July, Gyeongsangnam-do is better positioned than other regions to put investments into action quickly. Major companies are already located in the province, their investment plans have taken concrete shape, and the provincial government has set up a dedicated organization to provide support. This makes it possible to implement investments swiftly."

He continued, "Gyeongsangnam-do has been a center of South Korean manufacturing for the past 50 years and has built global competitiveness in industries such as K-aerospace, K-defense, K-nuclear power, and K-shipbuilding. As the Arctic shipping route era takes off and transportation and logistics infrastructure expands around Jinhae New Port, including the Gadeokdo New Airport and the Southern Inland Railway, conditions for doing business here will improve further."

Governor Park said, "Businesses and investment attraction are key to regional development. We deeply value the decision of business leaders who have chosen to invest in Gyeongsangnam-do."

He added, "I will personally follow up on the necessary matters to ensure that today's investment agreements lead to actual investments and that companies can grow in Gyeongsangnam-do."

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