Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announces improvement tasks in the semiconductor sector at the Regulatory Rationalization Committee
Review of special working hours for core R&D personnel... Spurring the enactment of the Ultra-wide Special Zone Act
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Jang Bo-in = In order to speed up investment in semiconductor megaprojects, the government is introducing a 'fast track' that simultaneously promotes everything from industrial complex licensing to compensation design.
We will also promote 13 improvement tasks to quickly implement investment in mega project semiconductors, including reviewing the application of special working hours for core semiconductor research and development (R&D) personnel.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that at the '2nd General Meeting of the Regulatory Rationalization Committee' held at the Blue House Guesthouse on the 23rd, related ministries jointly announced the 'Regulatory Rationalization Plan for Rapid Implementation of Mega Project Semiconductor Investment'.
The government plans to improve the system so that semiconductor-related investment, research, and support are carried out quickly and efficiently.
First, in order to shorten the time it takes to execute an investment, location and infrastructure-related procedures that had previously been carried out sequentially are processed in parallel or in batches.
Currently, the establishment of a semiconductor industrial complex plan, various permits, compensation, design and construction, etc. are carried out sequentially, but in the future, the plan is to simultaneously pursue permits, compensation and design through a fast track and drastically shorten the period from the establishment of the industrial complex to the operation of the fab.
In addition, if a semiconductor cluster is designated as a super-metropolitan special zone, we plan to reflect in the Ultra-metropolitan Special Zone Act a provision that allows additional licenses and licenses in addition to those permitted by the Semiconductor Special Act to be processed in one go.
From fab construction to production, operation, and export, we will ensure that everything continues without a hitch.
Industrial complexes where high-tech industries such as semiconductors are gathered are designated as comprehensive bonded areas.
Currently, each semiconductor fab must obtain a bonded factory patent and renew it every 5 to 10 years, but we plan to reduce this burden and facilitate the import, processing, and movement of foreign equipment and raw materials within the industrial complex.
Unnecessary administrative burden will also be alleviated, such as improving redundant procedures that required approval and reporting from the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, respectively, for work handling hazardous chemicals.
For high-pressure gas used in the semiconductor process, separate special safety standards are established that reflect the characteristics of the production site.
In order to speed up the pace, the government plans to also review special working hours for core semiconductor R&D personnel in super-metropolitan special zones.
However, we will begin discussions with labor and management on the premise of appropriate compensation and measures to protect the right to health.
We will expand verification opportunities for domestic semiconductor materials, components, and equipment (materials and equipment) companies, and also simplify inspection and testing procedures for research and development prototypes in semiconductor bonded factories.
The government also decided to establish a government-wide support system to systematically manage the investment schedule.
The 'Semiconductor Industry Competitiveness Enhancement Special Committee' chaired by the President will be used as a government-wide coordination channel, and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's Semiconductor Innovation Growth Support Team will help resolve corporate difficulties and implement investments.
We are also pushing for the prompt enactment of a super-regional special zone law to support semiconductor mega projects.
Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jeong-kwan said, “Semiconductor competition is a race against time,” and added, “We will boldly improve procedures that are not appropriate for the field while protecting safety and workers’ rights, and work with related ministries to support semiconductor companies so that they do not miss the right time for investment and research and development to ensure that mega projects are implemented without a hitch.”
