South Korea to Invest ₩60 Trillion in Regional ‘5-pole, 3-special’ Growth Engines; 500 AI Factories by 2030
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy reported a three-pronged plan—regional growth, advanced manufacturing-AI transformation, and new trade strategy—backed by focused finance and policy changes. By February, the government will select regional growth industries under the “5-pole, 3-special” (5극 3특) framework and mobilize a 국민성장펀드 (National Growth Fund) seed investment of about ₩60 trillion. Special grants modeled on the US IRA will be considered, along with regulatory free zones, talent programs via nine national universities, and mega regional clusters such as a “Southern semiconductor innovation belt” linking Gwangju, Busan and Gumi. A RE100 (100% renewable energy) industrial park pilot and a new battery “triangle” will be launched. The M.AX alliance will scale up manufacturing-AI convergence, expanding AI factories from 102 to 500 by 2030 and creating 15 joint AI models and 13 pilot industrial parks. Policies also target AI semiconductors (NPU), vehicle software (SDV), and a ₩74.3 billion investment in future-car tech next year. To boost inward investment and exports, project-based FDI and trade moves—including CPTPP accession review—are planned, plus larger subsidies for strategic domestic production. Organizational changes in the ministry will support these shifts.
