Mayor Lee Sangil: "Carbon Neutrality Is a Business Competitiveness Challenge"... Seeking Support for Semiconductor Suppliers

Yongin City Hosts 'Yongin Special City Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth Forum'
Seeks Policy Direction for Semiconductor Materials, Parts and Equipment Companies' Transition to Carbon Neutrality
Forum on Green Growth Draws About 100 Attendees, Including Industry, University and Research Representatives
Discusses Financial, Tax and R&D Support to Help Small and Midsize Companies Transition to Low-Carbon Facilities

Lee Sang-il, mayor of Yongin Special City in Gyeonggi Province, said on November 11, "Carbon neutrality is an important goal that must be achieved not only to address the climate crisis but also to ensure sustainable growth and competitiveness for businesses." He said the city would incorporate into its policies opinions from experts and industry representatives to help semiconductor materials, parts and equipment companies transition to low-carbon operations.

Lee Sangil, mayor of Yongin Special City, delivers welcoming remarks at the Carbon Neutral Green Growth Forum on the 11th. Photo provided by Yongin City.

Speaking at the "2026 Yongin Special City Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth Forum," held that day at the Convention Hall of Yongin City Hall, Lee said, "As international carbon emissions regulations are tightened, the importance of managing the electricity used in semiconductor production and carbon emissions is also growing."

About 100 people attended the forum, including city council members, representatives from businesses, universities and research institutes, and residents. It was hosted by Yongin City and organized by the Yongin City Carbon Neutrality Support Center.

As demands to reduce carbon emissions and use renewable energy in the global semiconductor market expand from manufacturers to their partner companies, how materials, parts and equipment companies respond has also emerged as a challenge. In Yongin, the Yongin Advanced System Semiconductor National Industrial Complex, where Samsung Electronics will locate, is being developed in Idong and Namsa-eup, Cheoin-gu, while the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster General Industrial Complex, where SK hynix will locate, is being developed in Wonsam-myeon.

In his keynote address, Shin Ho-jung, head of the National Cleaner Production Center at the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, stressed that companies across the supply chain need to share and manage carbon emissions data to respond to changes in international carbon regulations. Jung Eun-mi, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade, presented ways for large companies and their partner companies to work together.

Kim Hyo-soo, head of the Climate, Environment and Safety Office at the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association, outlined financial, tax and research and development support measures to help small and midsize materials, parts and equipment companies adopt low-carbon facilities.

The panel discussion covered how local governments can support materials, parts and equipment companies in managing emissions and transitioning their facilities, as well as how businesses, universities and research institutes can work together.

Officials pose for a commemorative photo after Yongin Special City held the Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth Forum on the 11th. Photo courtesy of Yongin City.

Mayor Lee said, "We will actively incorporate the various opinions and policy implications presented in today's presentations and discussions into the city's policies, and pursue administrative measures that help develop Yongin's semiconductor industry and achieve carbon neutrality."

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