South Korea’s government selects a military airport in Gwangju, about 270 kilometers south of Seoul, as the site for a new semiconductor production cluster under its “three megaprojects” initiative. Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik says the decision follows a meeting between government officials and executives from Samsung Electronics and SK hynix to discuss follow-up steps for the investment plan. Samsung and SK hynix are expected to build facilities at the chosen site. The chip cluster is part of the government’s broader effort to expand national chip manufacturing capacity, alongside projects involving physical AI and AI data centers.
The investment is described as the largest to date in the Gwangju and Honam region, with the companies pledging a combined 800 trillion won (about $522 billion). The site choice is made from shortlisted options in the southwestern region, with the companies citing advantages such as favorable terrain.
The Defense Ministry says it has not finalized the detailed plan to relocate the Gwangju military airport. It adds it will coordinate closely with the Air Force to avoid any gap in readiness. Muan, South Jeolla Province, is identified as a preliminary relocation candidate, though local authorities request revisions and seek major national-level incentives before the relocation proceeds.
