Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources Kim Jung-kwan said Tuesday that decisions on how companies will arrange their fabs — semiconductor production facilities — within the Honam semiconductor cluster are expected to be finalized by the end of this month.
Kim made the remarks at a plenary session of the National Assembly's Budget and Accounts Special Committee, responding to a question from Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Jo In-cheol. "The overall situation has moved very quickly. Fab placement and various other details are actively being worked out behind the scenes," Kim said.
On the significance of fab placement, Kim said it amounts to "a kind of starting point for everything else," adding that how quickly fabs can be completed — alongside those in Yongin — is closely tied to whether South Korea can secure a dominant position in semiconductor industry competitiveness. "Industrial complex agreements are expected to proceed in line with that," he said.
Kim also said visible progress for local residents would come in the form of military airport relocation and the subsequent deployment of facilities in those areas. "I expect the overall picture to take shape by the end of this year or around 2027," he said.
Kim added that the airport site is divided between an airfield and an ammunition depot, and that construction may be possible in some areas even before the airport is relocated. "There is a judgment that construction is feasible in certain sections ahead of the relocation, and we are reviewing proceeding with work in those areas," he said.
When Jo asked whether any companies had indicated a desire to withdraw their investment during recent consultations, Kim said there had been none whatsoever. "The companies are thinking they want to move forward as quickly as possible — even a day sooner," he said.
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