South Korea’s Jeonnam-Gwangju region is making significant strides in attracting major semiconductor investments, with SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics reportedly finalizing plans for a new chip production complex. Publicly available information from the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City office reveals active negotiations with both semiconductor giants regarding the development of a semiconductor cluster in the Honam region (encompassing North Jeolla Province, South Jeolla Province, and Gwangju Metropolitan City).
Accelerating Investment and Land Demands
Both SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics have emphasized the critical need for securing substantial land and expediting their investment timelines. This has led to a detailed refinement of their respective investment proposals.
SK Hynix’s Ambitious Footprint
SK Hynix has explicitly indicated its intention to secure the largest possible production land on the Gwangju military airport site. Following the announcement of investment plans, the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City established a dedicated communication channel with SK Hynix. Between July and September 2026, nine rounds of consultations, involving both management and operational levels, confirmed the company’s strong commitment to investment and its requirement for extensive land area.
The SK Hynix management team conducted multiple site visits to the military airport location starting in mid-July 2026. Notably, a high-level delegation, including the president and seven vice presidents, visited the site on July 29th. Further discussions took place on September 1st, when the mayor of the Integrated Special City, Min Hyung-bae, visited SK Hynix’s Icheon campus to consult with CEO Gwak Noh-jung on matters such as national industrial park construction, fab site selection, and establishing a long-term cooperation framework.
Samsung Electronics Pushes for Speed
Samsung Electronics, on the other hand, is prioritizing the acceleration of its investment schedule. Kim Yong-gwan, President of DS Division Management Strategy at Samsung, stated at a joint committee meeting for major super projects in Yongin on August 11th that the progress of the Yongin National Industrial Complex is still slow, and he hopes for more proactive support to speed up the process. The following day, at an energy supply agreement signing ceremony for the Honam Regional Semiconductor Industry Park, he mentioned that the production target for the Yongin National Industrial Complex has been moved up to October 2029, and indicated that the preparation timeline for investment in the Honam region will also be significantly advanced.
Samsung Electronics’ vice presidents and presidents visited the Gwangju military airport site in July. Concurrently, operational staff from the Integrated Special City visited Samsung’s Pyeongtaek campus to discuss cluster development conditions, including land preparation, power, water, transportation, and logistics.
Special City’s Commitment to Facilitation
In response to the companies’ demands, the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City plans to prioritize the development of approximately 2.08 million square meters of immediately developable land within the planned 8.26 million square meter national industrial park, including areas designated for ammunition depot relocation. The goal is to commence land preparation in 2027, complete the initial power and water supply systems by the end of 2028, and achieve the first mass production by June 2030.
The Special City aims to advance a facility agreement with SK Hynix in October, using this as a catalyst to fully engage in negotiations for the execution phase of investments, including development strategies, factory construction, and supporting infrastructure. Samsung Electronics is scheduled for an on-site visit to the Pyeongtaek campus and a top management meeting on October 6th to further discuss investment and cooperation.
A spokesperson for the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City commented, “Both companies face an urgent need to expand their semiconductor production facilities. We are in close consultation with the government and both companies, managing tasks by sector through dedicated corporate windows and on-site visits to support the entire process from land preparation to factory production.”
This concerted effort highlights the region’s dedication to becoming a key player in the global semiconductor supply chain, facilitating the expansion plans of industry leaders like SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics.
