Key industry, academic and research experts to participate

A domestic semiconductor manufacturing facility. [Herald DB]
A domestic semiconductor manufacturing facility. [Herald DB]

The government has decided to establish the country's first legally mandated master plan consolidating all semiconductor-related policies it has announced and pursued to date. The plan will serve as the first five-year framework aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of the semiconductor industry.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said Tuesday it will hold a kickoff meeting to begin drafting the "Basic Plan for Strengthening Semiconductor Industry Competitiveness."

The meeting is being held to establish a five-year statutory master plan covering 2027 to 2031, based on the Special Act on Strengthening and Supporting Semiconductor Industry Competitiveness — commonly known as the Semiconductor Special Act — and its enforcement decree, which took effect Aug. 11.

The ministry said the plan will be the first legally mandated framework to consolidate semiconductor-related policies that have until now been announced and pursued separately, covering areas such as research and development, materials, components and equipment, workforce, and regional development.

About 15 key experts from industry, academia and research institutions will attend the meeting to share views on a broad range of topics, including the semiconductor industry's basic direction, infrastructure, workforce, supply chain and R&D.

The discussions will be further developed through four subcommittees covering regional development and clusters, AI semiconductors and R&D, supply chain and materials and components and equipment, and workforce, regulation and international cooperation.

The master plan will be finalized by year-end after roughly four months of subcommittee deliberations, consultations with related ministries and public comment, followed by review and approval by the Special Committee for Strengthening Semiconductor Industry Competitiveness, which is chaired by the president.

Min Woo Lee, director general for industrial growth at the ministry, said the government will "establish a mid-to-long-term strategy this year to systematically support the semiconductor industry as a national strategic asset, and continue to secure an overwhelming competitive edge."


oskymoon@heraldcorp.com