JEONNAM-GWANGJU — Jeonnam-Gwangju is reshaping itself into a single integrated industrial zone centered on the Honam region semiconductor cluster following its merger. At the core is a triangle industrial belt in which the Gwangju area handles semiconductors and AI manufacturing, the eastern area supplies materials and parts, and the western area backs up power supply with renewable energy.
Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City said on the 16th that it is drawing up systematic strategies for three zones, focusing on semiconductors and energy as the decisive fields for the regional economy, in line with the integrated launch on July 1 this year. The goal is to break away from an industrial structure dependent on the capital region through industrial integration. The city aims to build an independent industrial ecosystem that manufactures, supplies and sources power within the region.
Advanced industries in Jeonnam-Gwangju, including the Honam region semiconductor cluster and secondary batteries, are gaining momentum with full-scale government support. The city was selected as a national quantum cluster on Sept. 1, and on Sept. 30 the Gwangyang Bay area was designated a specialized complex for secondary batteries under the national advanced strategic industries program, laying the groundwork for a major industrial transformation.
For the restructuring to succeed, the city has defined the Gwangju area's role as an advanced manufacturing hub combining semiconductors, AI and future mobility. The plan is to build an advanced manufacturing platform linking AI design, semiconductor testing, future vehicle parts and energy data.
The eastern area will serve as the backbone of the restructuring. The Yeosu and Gwangyang Bay area is the core axis of Jeonnam's industry, with a base in petrochemicals, steel and ports. Key products include semiconductor process materials, secondary battery materials, robot parts and aerospace components.
The western area will supply industrial power through renewable energy. Offshore wind, solar power and RE100 industrial complexes are cited as the energy foundation of the restructuring. The city has proposed building a national pilot industrial complex dedicated to RE100 and a power generation complex dedicated to renewable energy supply in the Sani-myeon area of Haenam County. Also under discussion are offshore wind farms centered on Sinan, Yeosu and Goheung, a large-scale expansion of solar power, and the construction of renewable-based microgrids.
The key question for the restructuring is execution.
The Gwangju area currently needs infrastructure for semiconductor testing, packaging and design. Rather than competing head-on with large fabs in the capital region, it must secure an early lead in specialized fields such as AI chips, power semiconductors and automotive chips. The eastern area needs support for materials and parts companies to make the transition. The western area requires investment in the power grid. Even if renewable energy is generated, it is difficult to use as industrial power if transmission networks are insufficient.
To address these issues, the city plans to continue making requests to the government and the National Assembly while pushing ahead quickly on projects such as the Honam region semiconductor cluster.
"Integration is not simply about enlarging administrative districts. It is about tying together the industries, talent, technology and resources that Jeonnam-Gwangju has, to create a new framework for Korean industry," Min Hyung-bae, mayor of Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City, said. "We will work with residents to build a successful model of integration and innovation, so that the results and benefits of integration return to their lives."