An editorial in The Korea Times argues that South Korea's semiconductor industry cannot rely on capital-centric thinking alone. It says future competitiveness depends on locating energy-intensive chip factories near renewable energy sources, especially in the Jeolla region which has strong solar and offshore wind potential but faces grid curtailment. The piece warns against both over-concentration in the Seoul metro area and politically driven decentralization. It recommends that government invest in power infrastructure, water, transport, and workforce development so companies can make their own siting decisions based on energy availability and sustainability requirements.
