Land Minister Hong Ji-seon visits Gwangju Air Base site, pledges timely delivery of industrial complex land and improvements to transport links and living conditions

【Financial News, Jeonnam-Gwangju = Hwang Tae-jong, reporter】After visiting the Gwangju Air Base site on the 15th, a proposed location for Honam’s advanced semiconductor national industrial complex, and reviewing progress, Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Hong Ji-seon said, “The key is to develop the industrial complex site at an unprecedented speed in line with companies’ investment schedules and provide it on time,” adding, “We plan to develop sufficient land by actively reflecting companies’ needs as we draw up the industrial complex plan.”
He also said, “We will work without delay to expand connecting transport links and improve living conditions so that corporate investment leads to real growth in the region,” and stressed, “Relevant agencies are doing their utmost to ensure the timely supply of key infrastructure, including electricity and water, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will actively cooperate.”
Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City (Gwangju Special City) expects the development of Honam’s advanced semiconductor national industrial complex to gain further momentum, following a series of visits to the site: SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won visited the Gwangju Air Base site on the 9th and expressed his commitment to an early start and swift construction of a semiconductor plant, followed by Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jeong-gwan on the 12th, Minister of National Defense Kang Shin-cheol on the 14th, and Minister Hong of Land, Infrastructure and Transport that day.
According to Gwangju Special City, Minister Hong visited the Gwangju Air Base site that day and reviewed progress on the project to develop Honam’s advanced semiconductor national industrial complex. The site visit was also attended by Gwangju Special City Mayor Min Hyung-bae and officials from the Air Force and Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH), among others.
Minister Hong first visited the 1st Fighter Wing, stationed at Gwangju Air Base, and encouraged Air Force officials. “I am deeply grateful that the Air Force is participating in this national project by relocating its unit,” he said, urging them to “cooperate actively.”
He then surveyed the airport facilities and the site from the Gwangju Air Base control tower, before visiting the planned relocation site for the ammunition depot, which is under consideration for priority development, and inspecting conditions there.
At the site that day, Gwangju Special City Mayor Min Hyung-bae asked Minister Hong to designate the Muan National Industrial Complex early and to accelerate improvements to living conditions in surrounding areas, including the Sanjeong District. He also requested an early start to construction at the planned ammunition depot site and the designation of a wider area as a candidate site for Honam’s advanced semiconductor national industrial complex.
Mayor Min said, “With Minister Hong of Land, Infrastructure and Transport personally visiting the site after SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jeong-gwan, I expect the development of the Honam semiconductor national industrial complex to gain even more momentum.”
Meanwhile, Gwangju Special City plans to work closely with relevant agencies to ensure that companies’ needs are fully reflected in the semiconductor industrial complex development plan, and to actively support the timely provision of infrastructure such as land, electricity and water in line with companies’ investment schedules. It also plans to continue improving the investment environment by expanding transport infrastructure and improving living conditions, including housing, education and healthcare.

[email protected] Hwang Tae-jong Reporter