Whether Amkor Technology, a global semiconductor packaging company, will expand its investment in the South Jeolla-Gwangju region is drawing close attention. Having announced a 1 trillion won investment plan for Gwangju, the company is reportedly reviewing a further expansion into the Cheomdan 3 district, with an eye toward creating synergies with the 800 trillion won Honam semiconductor industry cluster and linking up with the AI sector.
With the launch of the South Jeolla-Gwangju integrated special city, which brings added administrative licensing support and broader investment infrastructure, observers are watching whether the investment will grow beyond its original scale.
Amkor Technology has also resolved a wastewater treatment problem that had long been a source of concern.
The South Jeolla-Gwangju integrated special city and Jangseong-gun signed a semiconductor wastewater treatment MOU at the Muan government complex on Friday to support Amkor Technology Korea's semiconductor factory investment.
The two sides agreed to work together to resolve the wastewater treatment issue, which had been identified as a major obstacle to expanding Amkor's semiconductor factory. The development stands in contrast to 2022, when Amkor shelved its Gwangju investment plan and instead expanded its production lines in Vietnam.
Amkor announced in June a plan to add six factory buildings on idle land within its Gwangju factory in the Cheomdan district of Buk-gu and to expand the site in phases through 2035.
The city had drawn up a plan to link Amkor's expanded wastewater output to the Gwangju No. 1 Sewage Treatment Plant, but the facility had in effect reached its capacity limit, creating an additional wastewater treatment problem.
The city then proposed connecting the wastewater to Jangseong-gun's public wastewater treatment facility. After Jangseong-gun accepted the proposal, the two sides concluded the agreement.
The two local governments plan to build the infrastructure needed to handle wastewater generated during semiconductor manufacturing in time for Amkor's large-scale investment, and to establish an administrative support framework.
They agreed to build wastewater treatment facilities on a schedule that will not disrupt factory operation timelines, and to cooperate at every stage — from licensing and facility construction to future operation and management.
South Jeolla-Gwangju Special City Mayor Min Hyeong-bae said the city would "focus its efforts on expanding essential infrastructure and providing administrative support so that Amkor's investment proceeds without a hitch."
sij@heraldcorp.com
