South Korea orders Gwangju air base shift to fast-track chip hub
South Korea's president orders Gwangju Air Base functions moved by mid-2028 to accelerate a semiconductor hub, part of a national plan to decentralize growth.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has ordered the transfer of military operations from Gwangju Air Base to other airfields by mid-2028, aiming to accelerate the construction of a second semiconductor belt in the country's southwestern Honam region. The directive came during the second public-private review of three flagship megaprojects focused on semiconductors, physical artificial intelligence, and AI data centers.
At the meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae, Lee stressed that securing the site and infrastructure is the top priority. He called for the semiconductor cluster to develop at least as quickly as TSMC's chip plant in Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture, which was built in 22 months. The Gwangju Air Base was selected as the site during the first review meeting on July 6.
Lee asked the Defense Ministry to temporarily transfer the base's functions to other military airfields by mid-2028 and to take steps to allow the site to be used as a semiconductor industrial complex as soon as possible. He also urged early construction on land near the airfield even before the transfer is completed.
The air base is one of five collocated operating bases where US Air Force units deploy during contingencies, and it shares its airfield with the civilian Gwangju Airport, adding complexity to the redevelopment.
Beyond the Honam chip belt, the initiative designates the central Chungcheong region as an advanced packaging hub and the southeastern Yeongnam region as a physical AI center, along with regional AI data centers. Lee described the effort as a "lightning campaign" and instructed ministries to pursue procedures simultaneously and ease regulations. He asked Prime Minister Han Seong-sook to oversee a government-wide review to prevent delays from ministerial silos, regulatory barriers, or infrastructure shortfalls.
Samsung Electronics and SK hynix have pledged major investments, supported by government commitments for power, water, transport, and housing. Lee emphasized the need for uninterrupted utility supply and close work with the National Assembly to expedite related legislation. "The first push of the pedal is always the hardest," he said, calling for an all-out effort in the coming year.