"Building the Future with Semiconductors"... Jeonnam-Gwangju Discusses Future City Blueprint

International Conference Held in Gwangju to Explore Solutions for Power, Jobs, and Living Conditions
Experts Present Development Strategies, Including Power Grid Expansion and a Metropolitan Living Area
Mayor Min Hyungbae: “Semiconductor Cluster Is

A gathering was held to examine the changes the semiconductor industry could bring to Jeonnam-Gwangju and discuss how industry and cities can grow together, from expanding the power grid to prepare for large-scale corporate investment and population inflows to building the conditions for people to live and settle in the region, including jobs, housing, transportation, and education.

Attendees pose for a commemorative photo holding signs that read “Semiconductors, Building the Future” at the 2026 Jeonnam-Gwangju Future City International Conference, held at the Gwangju MBC public hall on the 30th. Photo by Song Bohyeon

The Honam Branch of the Korea Developer Association and the Korea Real Estate Development Industry Research Institute held an international conference on the theme “Semiconductors Build the Future” at the Gwangju MBC Public Hall on the afternoon of the 30th. The conference explored ways for industry and cities to grow together, focusing on the question, “How will semiconductors change my life?”

In his welcoming remarks, Kim Hanmo, chairman of the Korea Developer Association, said, “Attracting industries and preparing cities must go hand in hand from the outset,” adding, “The central and local governments, businesses, and local communities must work together to ensure that the benefits of industrial growth lead to an improved quality of life for citizens.”

Kim Hanmo, chairman of the Korea Developer Association, delivers welcome remarks. Photo by Song Bohyeon.

In his congratulatory remarks, Min Hyungbae, mayor of Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, said, “The semiconductor cluster is an enormous opportunity to transform Jeonnam-Gwangju’s entire industrial landscape and create new prospects for youth employment and the region’s future,” adding, “What matters now is how quickly we can make it a reality.” He continued, “We are moving beyond a race against time and taking decisive action to build the foundations, including sites, power, water, and talent development,” emphasizing that “changes that citizens can experience and support are a powerful driving force for success.”

Min Hyungbae, mayor of Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, delivers congratulatory remarks at the 2026 Jeonnam-Gwangju Future Cities International Conference, held at Gwangju MBC’s public hall on the 30th. Photo by Song Bohyun

In the first keynote address, Song Hyeja, chair of the Regional Special Committee of the Presidential National Artificial Intelligence Strategy Committee, forecast that by 2030, Jeonnam-Gwangju would become an AI capital and rank among the world’s top 100 startup cities. She cited the renewable-energy-powered AI data center in the Solaseado Opportunity and Development Zone in Haenam, investment in the manufacturing AI transformation (AX) at Gwangyang Steelworks, and the Honam region’s semiconductor megaproject.

“The hardware is ready. Jeonnam-Gwangju must now complete the software for the six conditions that will make an AI city tangible: jobs, housing, education, healthcare, transportation, and safety,” Song said.

To that end, she proposed creating more than 100,000 quality jobs in AI and semiconductors and building an integrated smart platform for people settling in the region. She also identified specialized education centered on the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) and the Artificial Intelligence Convergence Business Development Institute (AICA), AI diagnostics and telemedicine, autonomous-driving tests, and an AI-based disaster early-warning system as priorities.

The power supply needed to operate semiconductor factories was also a key topic.

“A single semiconductor fab requires as much electricity as one nuclear power plant produces,” said Kim Seongjin, chairman of the Korea Power Exchange. “Semiconductor production hubs around the world choose locations with reliable power supplies.”

Kim assessed that, given Jeonnam-Gwangju’s nuclear power and renewable energy infrastructure, the region has sufficient capacity to supply electricity to four semiconductor fabs. However, he pointed out that the power grid has lagged behind the expansion of power generation facilities, and that this issue needs to be addressed.

“Over the past 25 years, power generation capacity has increased 2.8-fold, but the power grid has grown by only 1.4 times,” Kim said. He argued that the construction of the Sinjangseong-Singwangju transmission line and new substations, along with the expansion of substation equipment and supply lines, should proceed in stages.

He also said that if the number of fabs grows to nine, the region would need two to three gas-fired combined heat and power plants, around two nuclear power plants, small modular reactors (SMRs), two 345 kV transmission lines, and additional interconnection lines.

Jung Eunseung, chair of the Gwangju Special City Semiconductor Strategy Committee, outlined the potential for regional industry by describing the growth of Samsung Electronics’ semiconductor business.

“When a factory was built in a rural village in Giheung, Gyeonggi Province, roads were constructed, and the business later expanded to Hwaseong, Dongtan, Pyeongtaek, and Asan,” Jung said. “The research workforce, which started with 200 people, has now grown to 5,000.” He added, “More than 200 tier-2 and tier-3 suppliers emerged, giving rise to the materials, parts, and equipment industries,” and forecast that “partner companies of Samsung and SK hynix will also move into Jeonnam-Gwangju.”

Jung forecast that Jeonnam-Gwangju would grow into an industrial hub linking semiconductor production, energy, and materials, parts, and equipment. Citing the growth of the semiconductor industry in Shenzhen, China, he also said that if a model in which the number of fabs grows to 12 were assumed, Jeonnam-Gwangju’s population could reach 7 million to 10 million.

Changes in cities overseas were also presented. Park Jonghyeon, CEO of the urban strategy think tank 2GOOD, who worked as an urban planner at Japan’s Mori Building, presented examples of urban change and the development of living conditions in Kumamoto, Japan, driven by semiconductor industry growth. Professor Montserrat Pareja introduced ways for industry and cities to grow together, drawing on Barcelona’s experience with urban innovation.

Speakers also proposed reorganizing cities and their surrounding communities to keep pace with industrial growth.

Naju Mong, a professor in the Department of Economics at Chonnam National University, presented on “Directions for Forming a Jeonnam-Gwangju Metropolitan Area and Strategies for Revitalizing the Regional Economy in an Era of Great Transformation.” He proposed forming a metropolitan area centered on Gwangju and connecting it with Naju, Damyang, Hwasun, Jangseong, and Hampyeong, while also linking the Mokpo area and the Yeosu-Suncheon-Gwangyang area around their respective hub cities.

He emphasized the need to bring industry, consumption, and transportation together into a single living and economic zone to expand the market, and to establish joint development plans through cooperation agreements between cities.

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