Construction is underway for a semiconductor cluster in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Jan. 20. Yonhap

Politicians running in the June 3 local elections are adding uncertainty over a semiconductor cluster under construction in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, with a combined 1,000 trillion won ($680 billion) investment from Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.

With the government remaining ambiguous about the debate over the chip cluster's location, candidates have pledged to attract semiconductor plants to their regions, raising concerns about potential setbacks in the mega project.

Gumi Mayor Kim Jang-ho, who is seeking reelection as a candidate from the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), vowed to bring a semiconductor fab to an industrial complex in his city in North Gyeongsang Province.

"Dispersing semiconductor facilities is a global trend, considering TSMC's dispersion of facilities to four production bases and Japan's construction of chip clusters in both Hokkaido and Kyushu," he said April 14. "Part of the Yongin cluster should be moved to other regions, as the city lacks enough electricity and needs over 2 trillion won for water supply."

Gangwon Province Gov. Kim Jin-tae, who is also seeking another term as a PPP candidate, reiterated his idea of establishing a chip cluster in the city of Wonju. Rep. Yoo Yeong-ha of the PPP also pledged a Samsung fab in Daegu, before he lost to Rep. Choo Kyung-ho in the party's candidate selection for the city's mayoral race.

Their campaigns contradict that of Yongin Mayor Lee Sang-il, another PPP candidate seeking reelection.

Lee has criticized the incumbent administration for pushing for the cluster's relocation from sites near the capital to southern parts of the country. He also accused Rep. Choo Mi-ae of being deceptive after the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) candidate for Gyeonggi Province governor denied the cluster's relocation.

Rep. Choo Mi-ae, center, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea candidate for Gyeonggi Province governor, poses at Samsung Electronics' semiconductor plant in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Friday. Courtesy of Choo's election campaign

During her visit to Samsung's semiconductor factory in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Friday, Choo promised to give momentum to the cluster's construction in Yongin. A day earlier, she asked fellow DPK candidates to help Yongin successfully accommodate the cluster.

Source: Korea Times News