JEONNAM-GWANGJU — Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City is accelerating an expansion of its wastewater treatment infrastructure to coincide with the groundbreaking of Amkor Technology Korea's 3 trillion won ($2.1 billion) advanced semiconductor manufacturing line. With Amkor's investment scaled up from an initial 1 trillion won to 3 trillion won, daily wastewater output is expected to rise to 9,000 tons from 6,000 tons, prompting the city to build a treatment system linking the Gwangju sewage treatment plant and the Jangseong public wastewater treatment facility.
The city said on the 20th that it is pursuing the expansion of the public wastewater treatment facility together with Jangseong County, targeting June 2028. Administrative steps are under way, including revisions to the industrial complex management plan and to the master plan for the wastewater treatment facility. The strategy is to raise industrial and environmental infrastructure at the same time so that the large chip investment translates into expanded production lines and jobs for young people.
Jeonnam-Gwangju plans to begin basic and detailed design work as soon as the administrative procedures are completed. It will then consult with the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment on funding before sequentially proceeding with construction management services, tendering, construction, completion and trial operation, after which the facility will enter full operation.
The city had earlier formed a dedicated corporate support team to review plans for key infrastructure such as water supply, sewage and electricity. It has also been coordinating permits and approvals required for the investment with relevant agencies to support its execution.
In particular, the city and Jangseong County signed an agreement on Sept. 18 on a semiconductor wastewater treatment support project aimed at attracting Amkor Technology Korea's Gwangju semiconductor plant. The facility expansion is a follow-up measure intended to strengthen implementation of that agreement.
The city views the project as strategic infrastructure that will underpin the semiconductor industry ecosystem rather than merely an addition of environmental facilities. It said it would concentrate administrative resources so that the large-scale investment leads to expanded production facilities, job creation and a stronger local economy.
"Amkor's additional investment is a prime example of the power generated by the Jeonnam-Gwangju merger," Min Hyung-bae, mayor of Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City, said. "The result of designing industrial and environmental infrastructure together is now producing tangible outcomes." He added, "We will strengthen cooperation between regions to create conditions in which companies can invest boldly," and said the city would "lead the creation of quality jobs and the revitalization of the local economy."