Opposition lawmaker Ko: Semiconductor Special Act rules to drop Greater Seoul exclusion, opening door for Yongin cluster support

The government has decided to drop a provision that would have excluded the Greater Seoul area from semiconductor cluster designation criteria under the Semiconductor Special Act's enforcement decree, paving the way for the Yongin semiconductor cluster to receive support under the law.

Ko Dong-jin, a People Power Party lawmaker on the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, said Wednesday that the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy confirmed Tuesday it would remove a "non-Greater Seoul area" requirement it had been reviewing for Article 15 of the enforcement decree, which governs semiconductor cluster designation standards. The ministry will instead adopt a preferential approach favoring regions outside Greater Seoul.

The ministry had reportedly been considering adding a criterion requiring that designated semiconductor clusters be located outside the Greater Seoul area. Concerns were raised that such a requirement would prevent the Yongin semiconductor cluster, currently under development, from being recognized as a cluster under the special act, potentially restricting support for critical infrastructure such as power and water supply networks.

Ko had pressed the ministry to scrap the criterion, arguing that a blanket exclusion of Greater Seoul would create practical problems — including reduced accessibility for semiconductor materials, components and equipment companies, as well as research personnel.

The ministry told Ko's office Tuesday that "it has been confirmed that the language excluding Greater Seoul in Article 15 will be replaced with a preferential approach favoring non-Greater Seoul regions."

As a result, the Yongin semiconductor cluster is expected to retain its status as a designated cluster under the special act, and support for infrastructure including power and water supply networks is expected to become available.

"I will do my part to ensure that the subordinate regulations of the Semiconductor Special Act are put in place without a hitch, so that South Korea's semiconductor industry can leap to the top of the world," Ko said.