![Kim Sung-hwan, minister of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment [Yonhap]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/08/12/rcv.YNA.20260804.PYH2026080416230001300_P1.jpg)
South Korea has laid the groundwork to supply a combined 20 GW of electricity to the Honam-region semiconductor industrial complex and the Yongin national and general industrial complexes — the centerpieces of the government's "Three Mega-Projects for South Korea's Great Leap Forward."
The government, Korea Electric Power Corporation, Samsung Electronics, SK hynix and local authorities have reached agreement on power supply timelines, infrastructure construction and cost-sharing. The electricity supply — long cited as the biggest obstacle to large-scale semiconductor investment — has moved into the implementation phase.
The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment held a "Honam and Yongin Semiconductor Mega-Project Power Supply Agreement Ceremony" Wednesday at Korea Electric Power Corporation's Gyeongin Construction Headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, signing three separate power supply agreements covering the Honam-region semiconductor industrial complex, the Yongin semiconductor national industrial complex and the Yongin general industrial complex.
The ceremony was attended by Climate Minister Kim Sung-hwan, South Jeolla-Gwangju Integrated Special City Mayor Min Hyeong-bae, Korea Electric Power Corporation President Kim Dong-cheol, Samsung Electronics President Kim Yong-gwan and SK hynix President Yeom Seong-jin, along with other central and local government officials and corporate representatives.
The core commitment of the agreements is to concentrate the full capabilities of all participating institutions so that power can be delivered in time for semiconductor production facilities to begin operation. The South Jeolla-Gwangju Integrated Special City agreed in particular to expedite permitting and licensing procedures.
Power demand at the Honam-region semiconductor complex is projected to exceed 6 GW. The government and Korea Electric Power Corporation plan to supply an initial roughly 3 GW in the first phase starting in 2029, taking into account corporate investment schedules, then build additional infrastructure to reach a cumulative supply of more than 6 GW.
For the Honam complex's transmission network, the first phase will involve constructing a line branching off the Sinjangseong-Singwangju corridor and connecting it to the complex. The second-phase line will be finalized through detailed technical review and consultations with companies and relevant agencies.
The cost of first-phase power supply infrastructure will be shared between the public and private sectors in proportion to their respective electricity usage. For the portion borne by the private sector, the government is also pursuing a plan to provide some support from national fiscal resources through consultations among related ministries, in accordance with the Semiconductor Special Act that took effect Tuesday.
The Yongin national and general industrial complexes had set a target — announced as part of the Three Mega-Projects on June 29 — to significantly advance the completion date of the final fabrication plants and double memory chip production capacity within five years.
Wednesday's ceremony included amendments to the Yongin general industrial complex power supply agreement originally signed in November 2024, as well as a new agreement for the second phase of power supply to the Yongin national industrial complex. Starting with the initial power supply to the Yongin general complex last month, total power demand across both Yongin complexes is projected to reach more than 14 GW by 2041.
The Yongin national industrial complex will receive power in stages through 2041 for a total of six fabrication plants. In the first phase through 2032, short-distance transmission lines near the complex and three 1 GW LNG power plants within the complex — utilizing capacity freed up by retiring aging coal plants — will meet initial demand. In the second phase through 2035, additional demand will be addressed by expanding the capacity of existing lines. The final configuration will involve constructing supply lines from the East Coast and central regions, to be finalized through detailed technical review and consultations with companies and relevant agencies.
The Yongin general industrial complex will receive its initial power supply in the first phase via a transmission line connecting the Sinanseong substation — completed last month — to the Dongyongin substation. In the second phase, lines near the complex and an East Coast supply line will be built ahead of schedule in 2031 and 2032.
"The key to the success of the semiconductor mega-projects is rapid power supply," Climate Minister Kim said. "The government, companies and local communities will work as one team to dramatically cut administrative procedures and do everything in our power to ensure electricity is delivered on time as the new industrial complexes are built."
South Jeolla-Gwangju Integrated Special City Mayor Min said the city would "advance the administrative procedures for power grid construction as much as possible and prepare infrastructure without delay in line with corporate investment schedules," adding that "public and private sectors working as one team will open a new chapter for South Korea's semiconductor industry in South Jeolla-Gwangju."
Korea Electric Power Corporation President Kim said the utility, as the institution responsible for the nation's power infrastructure, "plans to concentrate all its capabilities to supply electricity on time in line with the growing power demand from companies," and pledged to "actively support the enhancement of South Korea's semiconductor industry competitiveness through this agreement."
oskymoon@heraldcorp.com
