Suwon, South Korea — November 11, 2025 — Gyeonggi Province Governor Dong-yeon Kim announced a new climate–economic initiative to strengthen the competitiveness of Korea’s semiconductor industry, joining hands with Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, and key semiconductor associations to accelerate the transition to renewable energy.
At a signing ceremony held at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office, Gyeonggi Province, Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association (KSIA), and the SEMI signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to expand renewable energy deployment across the semiconductor sector.
Governor Kim emphasized the urgency of responding to climate challenges alongside industrial growth:
“Semiconductors are the foundation of our future economy, yet we must ensure we are adapting effectively to the world’s rapid changes,” Kim said. “Gyeonggi Province has been working tirelessly to respond to the climate crisis and environmental shifts, and today’s partnership with the semiconductor industry marks an important step forward.”
Reflecting on his visits to leading global equipment firms ASM and ASML last year, Kim noted that “one of the two key concerns they raised was electricity — specifically, the supply of renewable energy.”
“Even when national policies once moved against climate action, Gyeonggi took the lead, expanded budgets and programs, and declared Gyeonggi RE100,” he added. “Now that the central government is actively promoting RE100 and renewable energy, we are delighted to collaborate more closely.”
Kim pledged that while Gyeonggi alone cannot achieve full-scale energy transformation, it will “set an example that drives all of Korea toward a sustainable industrial future.”
Saifi Usmani, Vice President of SEMI, also expressed support during the ceremony:
“SEMI represents 3,500 companies across the global semiconductor supply chain,” Usmani said. “We appreciate Gyeonggi Province’s leadership and the Korean government’s forward-looking vision to invest in clean and renewable energy. SEMI will actively support and work alongside you.”
Under the agreement:
- Gyeonggi Province will provide administrative support, foster inter-municipal cooperation, and improve conditions for corporate renewable energy adoption.
- Samsung Electronics and SK hynix will expand renewable energy use to advance their corporate carbon neutrality goals.
- KSIA will assist small and medium-sized semiconductor firms in renewable energy procurement and carbon reduction efforts.
- SEMI will share international best practices and policy recommendations to promote renewable energy expansion.
Global chip buyers are increasingly requiring suppliers to manufacture products using 100% renewable electricity under the RE100 framework by 2030. Yet Korea continues to face challenges due to limited renewable resources and high costs, making it one of the hardest countries for RE100 implementation, according to the CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project). While both Samsung Electronics and SK hynix have achieved RE100 at most overseas operations, domestic renewable electricity use remains around 31% and 30%, respectively.
Leveraging its experience installing 1 GW of new solar capacity over the past three years, Gyeonggi Province plans to channel this capability toward improving renewable energy access for semiconductor firms. The province aims to establish a trading platform integrating small-scale renewable energy sources—such as solar power generated from rooftops, village buildings, and parking lots—into a stable supply system for large and small semiconductor companies alike. This initiative is expected to ease key RE100 bottlenecks, including supply shortages and complex contracting processes, thereby enhancing the industry’s global competitiveness.
Notably, in November 2023, Gyeonggi signed a 20-year agreement to supply solar power from industrial complex rooftops to Samsung Electronics, underscoring its commitment to supporting global semiconductor companies in achieving RE100 goals.
Gyeonggi Province has set a target to build a 1 GW renewable energy procurement system by 2030 dedicated to strengthening the semiconductor sector’s international competitiveness. The province will continue to identify additional renewable energy sites and work closely with central ministries and public institutions to improve the policy and infrastructure environment for clean energy supply.
In line with its environmental focus, today’s ceremony was conducted as a paperless event, with participants signing the agreement digitally on tablets.
