JEONNAM-GWANGJU — The Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Metropolitan Council called on the central government and the National Assembly to provide full support for a semiconductor cluster in the Honam region, stressing the need for speed.
The council passed a resolution urging state support for the swift development of the Honam semiconductor cluster at the sixth plenary session of its fourth extraordinary session on the 23rd. The resolution was proposed by the standing special committee on support for the semiconductor cluster and introduced by its chairman, Kim Sung-il of the Democratic Party of Korea, who represents Haenam District 1. The council argued that removing regulations and committing state funds are essential to completing the cluster on schedule, with the first mass production targeted for June 2030.
The council identified the early use of the Gwangju military airport site as the most urgent task. Under the current donation-and-transfer arrangement, a replacement military airport must first be donated to the state before the former site is handed over. The council said that structure makes it difficult to accelerate the development of a national industrial complex and the construction of semiconductor production facilities.
The council therefore urged the National Assembly to swiftly pass a partial amendment to the special act on the relocation of the Gwangju military airport and the development of its former site, which would allow the former site to be transferred before the replacement facility is donated if certain conditions are met.
The council also called for resolving the permit procedures and overlapping regulations that have held back large-scale projects. It strongly urged the enactment of a special law to provide integrated support for building core infrastructure such as power and water supplies. Securing land alone cannot speed up the semiconductor industry, the council said, because power, water, roads, logistics, talent and living conditions must all come together at once.
The resolution aims to elevate the Honam semiconductor cluster from a regional issue to a task of national industrial strategy. The special committee plans to accelerate follow-up measures starting with the resolution. On the 15th of this month, the committee formed three subcommittees covering power and water supplies and mutual growth; land and corporate investment; and living conditions and talent development. It plans to hold policy debates and seminars by sector to gather views from the field and identify key policy tasks.
Based on those discussions, the committee will review legislative and budget support measures needed to build the Honam semiconductor cluster. It also plans to continue policy responses at the council level.
"The Honam semiconductor cluster is a strategic project that will drive both balanced regional development and the competitiveness of the nation's advanced industries," Kim said. "The government and the National Assembly must take a forward-looking approach to removing regulations and providing financial support."