Southwest Semiconductor Cluster Targets First Mass Production in June 2030

Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City announced on October 15, 2026 that it is accelerating site preparation and infrastructure construction for the Southwest Semiconductor Cluster, which aims for its first mass production in June 2030, according to aitimes.com.

The city plans to begin construction on about 630,000 pyeong of immediately usable land, including the planned ammunition depot relocation site, without waiting to secure the entire industrial complex. Permitting and design plus partial site construction are scheduled for 2027, fab construction for 2028-2029, and completion of the first fab in 2029.

Inspections of the project have continued through October. Choi Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, inspected the semiconductor cluster site at Gwangju Military Airport and the planned ammunition depot relocation site on October 9, 2026. Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan inspected the industrial complex site and power and water supply plans on October 12, 2026, and Minister of National Defense Kang Shin-chul inspected the relocation progress of Gwangju Military Airport on October 14, 2026.

Water infrastructure has also been addressed. Amkor announced a 1 trillion won investment in its Gwangju plant in the high-tech district of Buk-gu, and after the company pursued additional expansion, wastewater treatment limitations at the existing sewage facility were raised. Jeonnam-Gwangju prepared a plan linking to the Jangseong County public wastewater treatment plant and signed a business agreement with Jangseong County to jointly pursue permitting, facility construction and operation.

Mayor Min Hyeong-bae stated the city will prepare power, water, roads, transportation, housing, education and medical services all at once to create an industrial city.

Earlier milestones

In July 2026, about 2.5 million pyeong of the Gwangju Military Airport site was designated as a candidate site for a semiconductor national industrial complex. After launching as an integrated special city, Jeonnam-Gwangju enacted the "Ordinance on Support for Global Semiconductor Strategic Investment" and formed a semiconductor industry support team. A preliminary feasibility study exemption for the water supply project was approved by the Cabinet meeting on August 25, 2026, and for the power supply project on September 1, 2026. On September 29, 2026, President Lee Jae-myung inspected site and power/water supply plans at a public-private joint inspection meeting for mega-projects and ordered that schedules be accelerated, including reviewing changes to laws and regulations if necessary.