Kim Dong-yeon Achieves 100+ Trillion Won Investment Attraction Centered on Future Industries

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Gap-dong] Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon achieved '100 trillion won+ investment attraction' during his 'Global Daldal Tour.'

Governor Kim successfully attracted approximately 164 billion won in investment from 2 global semiconductor companies in Boston on the 27th (local time).

Additionally, ahead of meetings with Paramount and Shinsegae Property to proceed with the Hwaseong International Theme Park project (October 28 local time), he attracted additional investment worth approximately 5 trillion won (5.079 trillion won) for the project, finally breaking through the 100 trillion won investment attraction threshold.

◇Breaking Through 100 Trillion Won by Circling the Earth Five Times in Boston

Prior to this overseas trip, Governor Kim Dong-yeon's investment attraction record stood at 94.8844 trillion won. During this trip to the United States, he achieved investment attraction of 5.1719 trillion won across three projects (164 billion won from 2 semiconductor companies + 5.079 trillion won from Hwaseong International Theme Park project), surpassing the 100 trillion won mark.

He achieved the '100 trillion+α' investment attraction promise about 8 months ahead of schedule during his term. As of today (October 27), Governor Kim Dong-yeon's total investment attraction stands at 100.563 trillion won.

The significance of '100 trillion+α' investment attraction is substantial.

First, it demonstrates that Gyeonggi Province is growing as an international hub of innovative economy. The '100 trillion+α' is a comprehensive result from ① global corporate investment attraction (domestic + foreign 31.0344 trillion won) ② establishment of cutting-edge industrial ecosystem through venture startups (40.9995 trillion won) ③ creation of excellent sites such as Techno Valley (21.5345 trillion won) ④ technological development process through G-Fund and national R&D projects (6.4879 trillion won).

Second, it enables expectations for quality job creation.

During the investment attraction process, global companies submitted job creation plans totaling 7,000 positions. Calculating the employment creation effect from global corporate investment [investment amount × (industrial employment inducement coefficient/1 billion won)] results in approximately 270,000 jobs. This accounts only for global companies, and actual job creation and employment inducement effects are expected to be much larger.

Most importantly, '100 trillion won+ investment attraction' is a result achieved through on-the-ground effort. Since taking office in 2022, Governor Kim Dong-yeon has logged a flight distance of 206,695km. Considering that one circumference of the Earth (equatorial circumference) is 40,075km, this amounts to sales diplomacy covering five times around the Earth.

◇Becoming a Semiconductor Hub... 'Global Daldal Tour Phase 2'

In this 'Global Daldal Tour,' an extension of the 'Gyeonggi Daldal Tour,' Governor Kim Dong-yeon pressed hard on the accelerator toward 'Gyeonggi Province as a Semiconductor Hub' with approximately 164 billion won in investment attraction.

① Gyeonggi Province as Asia's strategic hub for semiconductor ion implantation equipment = Governor Kim Dong-yeon held meetings with Russell Low CEO, James Cugan CFO, and Robert Mahoney Senior Vice President at Axcelis headquarters in Boston on that day. Axcelis manufactures ion implantation equipment used in the fifth thin-film process (deposition + ion implantation) of the 8 major semiconductor processes. Ion implantation is a key process that gives semiconductors electrical characteristics, representing a super-gap technology field monopolized by the world's top 2 companies at 80%. Axcelis is one of these top 2 companies.

Axcelis expressed its intention to make large-scale investments to expand ion implantation equipment production at the Hyungok foreign investment zone in Pyeongtaek. This is the result of Axcelis selecting Gyeonggi Province as its Asia hub. Axcelis strategically selected regions less affected by U.S.-China trade restrictions and established plans to expand as Asia's hub center.

Gyeonggi Province actively responded by promising administrative support including site leasing and various permits, enabling victory in competition against Singapore and others.

On that day, CEO Russell Low welcomed the visit, saying "I admire Governor Kim Dong-yeon's leadership in making Gyeonggi Province a hub and center of innovative industry," and added "Governor Kim Dong-yeon's visit this time is a symbol of cooperation willingness for a better future."

Governor Kim Dong-yeon stated, "I am grateful that Axcelis, a unique company in ion implantation equipment production using super-gap technology, chose to invest in Gyeonggi Province as its Asia hub over other countries." He continued, "Gyeonggi Province will do its best to assist so that the Pyeongtaek investment contributes to expanded exports in the Asia region."

② Establishing world's largest 'molybdenum' mass production facility in the province = Governor Kim Dong-yeon subsequently concluded an investment agreement (MOU) with Integris, a global company headquartered in Boston, to expand existing molybdenum manufacturing facilities in Hwaseong and Pyeongtaek. Gyeonggi Province and Integris now possess world-class molybdenum production and supply capacity. Molybdenum is an advanced semiconductor new material. Compared to the existing tungsten material, it is more suitable for fine processes and is attracting attention as a next-generation key material. This preemptive facility investment created an opportunity to take the initiative in the future semiconductor industry.

Governor Kim Dong-yeon also assessed the significance, stating "Through this forward-looking investment, Gyeonggi Province has secured momentum to lead global supply chains and advance as a forward base for next-generation semiconductor technology innovation."

◇Three-way Cooperation Between Gyeonggi Province, Paramount, and Shinsegae

Governor Kim Dong-yeon completed his schedule for the day with his visit to Integris and will meet with Marie Max, Paramount's Senior Division Head, and Lee Im-yong, Shinsegae Property's CSR Executive Director, tomorrow (28th local time) to discuss development plans for creating Hwaseong International Theme Park.

Paramount is a mega-sized media and entertainment group that includes Paramount Pictures, one of Hollywood's 5 major film studios, and multiple channels including broadcaster CBS.

From Hollywood-representative films such as 'Mission Impossible,' 'Transformer,' 'Iron Man,' and 'Titanic' to popular animation 'SpongeBob,' all were born from Paramount.

The province held a global brand recruitment declaration ceremony for Hwaseong International Theme Park in October last year and officially announced that Paramount was selected as the global brand partner for 'Hwaseong International Theme Park.'

Shinsegae Hwaseong (Shinsegae Property + Shinsegae Construction) plans to develop a theme park of approximately 4.23㎢ within Songsan Green City in Namyang-eup, Hwaseong City, by introducing brands and characters held by Paramount. Construction is scheduled to begin in the second half of next year, with the first phase opening in 2030 followed by phased development over 20 years.

The Hwaseong International Theme Park utilizing the Paramount brand is gathering expectations to become a landmark representing not only South Korea but Asia.

The project was originally planned to require 4.5 trillion won in investment, but through phased development, the project cost was increased to approximately 9.5 trillion won in scale. Investment amount expanded by approximately 5 trillion won (precisely 5.079 trillion won). This is the result of three-way cooperation between Gyeonggi Province, Paramount, and Shinsegae.