Choo Mi-ae: "Gyeonggi Province to Become New Standard for Semiconductor Industry...Will Establish Gigawatt-Level Power Infrastructure"
Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae called for cooperation from global semiconductor and big tech companies, stating that she will "make Gyeonggi Province the standard for the world's semiconductor industry where advanced technology and eco-friendly energy grow together."
On the 27th at a hotel in Seongnam, Governor Choo held a 'Global Semiconductor Companies Renewable Energy Policy Discussion' with global companies including Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Apple, Amazon Web Services (AWS), ASML, Microsoft, and Qualcomm, as well as officials from the Global Semiconductor Industry Association (SEMI), to discuss ways to enhance the future competitiveness of eco-friendly K-semiconductors.
Governor Choo Mi-ae said in her opening remarks, "What Gyeonggi Province aims to do is not simply to attract a few more semiconductor factories, but to create a world-class, complete ecosystem where the entire semiconductor cycle—from production to advanced packaging, research personnel, and industrial infrastructure—is connected fastest and most reliably."
Governor Choo continued, "We want to create a mecca where your world-class technology and investment translate into results fastest," and emphasized the importance of energy supply, saying, "Semiconductor competition starts at the nanometer level, but the outcome of the industry depends on whether we can properly supply gigawatt-level eco-friendly power infrastructure."
She added, "Even with excellent technology and large-scale investment, factories cannot operate if electricity is not supplied on time, and the difficulties companies mention in the field are also power security, RE100 achievement, and licensing issues. To properly participate in the global supply chain, RE100 achievement and carbon neutrality are now tasks directly linked to corporate competitiveness."
Governor Choo stated, "Gyeonggi Province aims to supply 10GW of renewable energy by 2030, and will strengthen power infrastructure and administrative support, and establish a stable power supply foundation through large-scale renewable energy projects and Energy Storage System (ESS) hub development," and added, "We will comprehensively support companies by understanding their renewable energy demand, connecting them with power generators, and facilitating smooth power purchase agreements."
She emphasized, "To build trust that 'you can do business fastest in Gyeonggi Province,' we are operating the Governor's Direct Office Super-Gap Semiconductor Strategy Committee," and said with conviction, "We will make Gyeonggi Province not just the world's largest semiconductor cluster, but a new standard for the world's eco-friendly semiconductor industry where advanced technology and eco-friendly energy grow together."
The participating companies emphasized that for the semiconductor industry to continue growing and secure global competitiveness, stable power grids to meet large-scale power demand as well as systems and infrastructure to enable companies to secure necessary renewable energy in a timely manner must be prepared together.
Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Province is pursuing a 'Renewable Energy Major Transformation Plan' that expands renewable energy supply in the province to 10GW by 2030 and links this to RE100 implementation in the semiconductor industry. Plans include expanding the renewable energy supply base by utilizing potential resources by location, such as industrial complex and factory rooftops, agricultural and floating solar farms, and various idle sites on state and public land. In particular, large-scale renewable energy projects led by the public are also being pursued in areas including Sihwa and Hwawong District, Pyeongtaek Lake and Pyeongtaek Port, and idle sites in the northern Gyeonggi demilitarized zone area.
Separately, as Gyeonggi Province expects power demand of 15.5GW by 2040 in the Yongin semiconductor cluster, it is promoting stable power supply measures with the government, Korea Electric Power Corporation, and companies. Along with renewable energy expansion, it plans to support stable growth of the semiconductor industry through early construction of transmission and distribution facilities and expansion of Energy Storage Systems (ESS).