Gwangju mayor: 'Let's build Gwangju's future together with semiconductors'

Gwangju Mayor Park Gwan-yeol began a one-man protest outside Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday, calling for the successful development of the Yongin semiconductor national industrial complex and for concrete measures to ensure Gwangju benefits from the project as well.

Park said the protest was not meant to oppose the construction of the Yongin semiconductor complex, but to press the government for specific mutual-growth measures that would allow the success of the national strategic industry and the future of Gwangju to grow together.

The water supply project for the Yongin semiconductor national industrial complex involves laying about 47 kilometers of water pipelines as part of a national infrastructure project. More than half of that route — roughly 27 kilometers — passes through Gwangju.

The city said it is willing to actively cooperate for the success of the large-scale national project. However, it added that the government must also prepare support measures commensurate with the burden and sacrifice local residents will bear from the pipeline installation.

Park plans to urge the government to supply 30,000 units of AI-based smart public housing under government leadership. He also plans to call for developing the national industrial complex alongside AI and semiconductor research and development, and for attracting advanced companies. In addition, he plans to press for a pan-government council for mutual growth and national-level support for regions along the water pipeline route. He also intends to call for linking workforce training with job creation and easing overlapping regulations around Lake Paldang.

"Gwangju is ready to actively cooperate for the success of South Korea's semiconductor industry," Park said. "However, rather than demanding sacrifice from Gwangju citizens alone in the course of pursuing this national project, the government must prepare practical mutual-growth measures that allow industry, businesses, jobs and housing to grow together."

"This is not about blocking the semiconductor project — it is about building Gwangju's future together with semiconductors," he added. "We will negotiate with the government to the end and strongly demand the necessary measures so that Gwangju does not remain merely a transit route or a sacrifice zone."