North Gyeongsang Province and Gimcheon City signed an investment agreement (MOU) with high-tech manufacturer JNTC to establish a semiconductor glass substrate production line at the Gimcheon City Hall auditorium on September 21. 

The signing ceremony was attended by about 30 key figures, including North Gyeongsang Governor Lee Chul-woo, Gimcheon Mayor Bae Nak-ho, JNTC Chairman Jang Sang-wook and corporate executives, members of the National Assembly, provincial and city council members, and the chairman of the Gimcheon Chamber of Commerce. 

Under the agreement, JNTC plans to invest approximately 347 billion won from 2027 to 2030 to build a Through-Glass Via (TGV) glass substrate production line on industrial land in the Gimcheon 1 General Industrial Complex (Phase 3), while newly employing about 430 people. 

TGV (Through-Glass Via) is a core technology that connects electrical signals on both sides of a glass substrate using microscopic electrodes and wiring running vertically through the glass. Driven by the rapid growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and High-Performance Computing (HPC), it is drawing massive attention as a next-generation semiconductor packaging material to fulfill surging high-performance chip demands. JNTC aims to designate Gimcheon as its next-generation production base to scale up its related business operations. 

JNTC possesses core TGV process technologies, including glass cutting, laser glass drilling, etching, and plating. Operating three domestic business sites alongside overseas facilities in Vietnam and China, the company produces mobile, automotive, and wearable cover glass and connectors. It is also gearing up for the mass production of new products such as TGV glass substrates and HDD glass platters. 

Through this investment, Gimcheon secures a brand-new production hub for semiconductor and advanced manufacturing industries. The 347 billion won investment and creation of 430 jobs are expected to vitalize the regional economy. Based on continuous communication—from proposing tailored corporate sites to reviewing locations—North Gyeongsang Province and Gimcheon City plan to provide full administrative support to ensure the investment proceeds smoothly. 

North Gyeongsang Governor Lee Chul-woo stated, “JNTC’s investment in Gimcheon is highly significant as it secures a next-generation glass substrate production base in our province that will spearhead the future of AI and semiconductor industries. We will do our utmost to support the investment schedule and harmonize it with the local industrial ecosystem for mutual growth.” 

JNTC Chairman Jang Sang-wook remarked, “This investment agreement signifies that our mid-to-long-term growth engine—the TGV glass substrate business—has entered a full-scale commercialization trajectory backed by advanced technological prowess. Leveraging our leading technology, superior quality, and cost competitiveness, we will establish ourselves as an advanced materials leader in the AI-driven global semiconductor market and achieve co-prosperity with the Gimcheon community.”

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]