Jeonnam Gwangju City Semiconductor and AI Computing Center Administrative Audit... Concerned about speed

Concerns about the semiconductor national industrial complex and national artificial intelligence (AI) computing center project being promoted by Jeonnam Gwangju Unified Special City were raised during the parliamentary administrative audit.

At the administrative audit of the AI ​​Semiconductor Environment Committee held at the Gwangju building of the Jeonnam Gwangju Unified Special City Council on the 4th, lawmakers pointed out that there was a lack of participation of local companies, coexistence with residents, and actual business preparation due to the focus on speed.

The possibility of realizing the first mass production of semiconductors in June 2030, as targeted by the integrated city, is also on the chopping block.

Representative Kang Won-ho (Nam-gu 1) said, “The plan to move to the military airport in 2028, complete the factory at the end of 2029, and then mass produce just six months later is overly optimistic,” and requested a review of the process.

Rep. Lim Jong-guk (Buk-gu 2) criticized the lack of information sharing with central ministries, pointing out that the construction of an aviation fuel storage facility at the U.S. military airport was discovered through media reports.

Rep. Lee Seok-ju (Yeosu 6th) criticized, saying, “The scale of semiconductor talent training is different for each work report, causing confusion,” and added, “We should not give hope to students and parents.”

Representative Noh Jin-seong (Dong-gu 2) pointed out that specific plans for recruiting local talent were not discussed with semiconductor companies.

Rep. Oh Mi-seop (Western District 2) raised the issue of damage to residents and domestic water supply due to the expansion of the Dongbok Dam, and Rep. Kang Gwang-seok (Gangjin) raised the possibility of a shortage of agricultural water at the Naju Dam and the uncertainty of the referendum on relocating the military airport.

Subsequently, in the audit of the national AI computing center promotion team, lack of verification of demand for use and employment and economic ripple effects, insufficient participation of local construction companies and workers, lack of connection with the existing Gwangju AI data center and lack of plans to create an industrial ecosystem were pointed out.

The lawmakers pointed out the lack of professional manpower and publicity budget, the impact on residents due to large-scale power and water use, and insufficient disclosure of environmental information, and requested specific win-win measures and the establishment of a communication channel for residents.

Jeon Eun-ok, Director of Semiconductor Industry Support Policy, explained, “There is a clear aspect of recalculating the schedule in line with the June 2030 mass production target,” and added, “The military airport site has been substantially leveled, so it is possible to shorten the construction period.”

Regarding recruiting local talent, he said, "We will prepare measures to link companies and educational institutions in the future."

Choi Woo-seok, head of the National AI Computing Center Project Promotion Team, responded, “The government policy direction for AI computing centers is to first build infrastructure based on expected demand and expand utilization demand rather than confirming specific demand,” and added, “We will supplement related measures.”