Gov't rejects water shortage concerns involving planned chip hubs in Gwangju-South Jeolla

The government on Saturday dismissed claims that planned semiconductor industrial complexes in Gwangju and South Jeolla would face water shortages. It noted that more than 1 million tons of industrial water could be secured each day.

“Seven dams in the Yeongsan and Seomjin river basins can supply up to 3.37 million tons of water daily for residential, industrial, agricultural and environmental purposes,” Kim Sung-whan, the minister of climate, energy and environment, posted on Facebook.

The seven dams store about 1.5 billion tons of water, according to Kim, who oversees the nation’s water resources. 

“More than 1 million tons of additional water per day could be secured through adjustments to some dam systems and spare capacity,” Kim added.

Such remarks came after the government floated its intention to foster a chip production hub in the region as part of its plan for balanced regional development. A more detailed investment blueprint involving the nation’s two largest chipmakers, Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, is set to be unveiled by the government on Monday. 

Earlier in the day, President Lee Jae Myung also pushed back against criticism over water supplies.

“A review found that a daily supply of 1 million tons of industrial water would be feasible with a management system suited to a high-tech industrial city and the proper allocation […] of resources,” the president wrote on X on Saturday. 

Kim, however, did not provide a detailed plan on how the government would secure the additional water supply.

Instead, he suggested that the government would first address anticipatory demand — water allocations that have long been reserved but remain unused — by adjusting dam water systems and using spare capacity. 

That same day, Kim Yong-beom, the presidential chief of staff for policy, argued in a Facebook post that the country has sufficient water resources.

“There are ample water resources, including unused allocations from decades of overallocation, spare capacity at dams, large agricultural reservoirs and weirs and reclaimed water,” he wrote.

Climate Minister Kim also dismissed proposals by some observers to divert water from other regions to Gwangju and South Jeolla or rely on seawater desalination.

“Those options differ from those that the government is currently reviewing,” he wrote in his Facebook post. “As the semiconductor industry depends above all on a stable supply of water and electricity, the government has prioritized those conditions.”

He added that the government would continue listening to criticism and differing views.

“We believe the facts should be explained accurately to avoid public misunderstanding,” the minister wrote. “We will provide a more detailed explanation through an official announcement next week.”

BY HYEON YE-SEUL [[email protected]]