This issue tracks South Korea's effort to build power-grid infrastructure for its rapidly expanding semiconductor clusters and secure the financing required for those investments. It follows the inclusion of large semiconductor loads in Korea Electric Power Corporation's long-term transmission plan, power-supply agreements for the Yongin and Honam clusters, the exemption of Honam grid infrastructure from preliminary feasibility review, and Korea Electric Power Corporation's proposal for Samsung Electronics and SK hynix to prepay 25 trillion won in future electricity bills as a potential source of grid-investment funding.
7 events · 7 sources · Updated 16 days ago
Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment launched a working group with Korea Electric Power Corporation, Samsung Electronics, SK hynix and other participants to coordinate the first-stage power infrastructure and permitting for the Honam semiconductor complex.
Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, Korea Electric Power Corporation, Samsung Electronics, SK hynix and other participants signed three agreements for staged electricity supply to the Honam and Yongin semiconductor complexes.
The government exempted the Honam semiconductor national industrial complex's power-infrastructure project from preliminary feasibility review, accelerating plans to connect the site to existing 345 kV transmission infrastructure.
Korea Electric Power Corporation proposed that Samsung Electronics and SK hynix prepay a combined 25 trillion won in future electricity bills to help finance upfront grid investment for the Yongin and Honam clusters. The proposal remains under negotiation.
The government projected that expanding semiconductor production by Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, together with growth in AI data centers, could generate 25–30 GW of additional long-term electricity demand. The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment is preparing a long-term energy plan through 2040 and is also considering the possibility of building new nuclear reactors.