CHUNGCHEONGBUK-DO < invest Korea

[Cheongju = Newsis] SK Hynix Cheongju Plant located within the Cheongju Industrial Complex in Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do. Dec. 31, 2022. jyy@newsis.com

According to Newsis,

[Sejong = Newsis] Reporter Im Ha-eun – Led by the boom in the semiconductor industry, mining and manufacturing production in the Chungbuk region experienced a prominent increase during the first quarter of this year.

According to the 'First Quarter 2026 Regional Economic Trends' released by the National Data Service on the 20th, mining and manufacturing production in the Chungbuk region during the first quarter of this year rose 28.4 percent year-on-year. Driven by expansions in semiconductors and electronic components (85.8 percent), electrical equipment (72.2 percent), and machinery equipment (22.8 percent), the region recorded the highest growth rate nationwide. Cheongju, Chungbuk, is home to a high concentration of semiconductor manufacturing facilities owned by large conglomerates, including SK Hynix.

On a nationwide scale, mining and manufacturing production in the first quarter increased 2.6 percent year-on-year. Alongside Chungbuk (28.4 percent), production rose in regions such as Ulsan (5.5 percent) and Daegu (5.0 percent), whereas contractions were reported in Jeonbuk (-5.8 percent), Incheon (-5.4 percent), and Busan (-4.5 percent).

Regarding exports, regions specializing in memory semiconductor production demonstrated strong performance. Nationwide exports grew by USD 606 billion compared to the same period last year, with the largest increases concentrated in Gyeonggi (USD 28.41 billion), Chungnam (USD 20.48 billion), and Chungbuk (USD 3.39 billion). Gyeonggi hosts the primary semiconductor manufacturing facilities of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, while Chungnam features Samsung Electronics' semiconductor and display production hubs alongside related industrial complexes.

Nationwide service sector production increased 4.0 percent year-on-year as output in finance and insurance, as well as wholesale and retail, expanded. Regions such as Seoul (8.7 percent), Daejeon (5.3 percent), and Ulsan (5.0 percent) maintained an upward trajectory, influenced by production growth in finance and insurance, arts, sports, and recreation, and real estate.

Retail sales increased 3.3 percent year-on-year. Decreases were recorded in Gyeongbuk (-2.8 percent), Gyeongnam (-1.5 percent), and Daejeon (-0.5 percent), while upward trends were observed in Incheon (6.1 percent), Jeju (6.0 percent), and Daegu (5.9 percent). Chungbuk also posted an increase of 4.4 percent.

The employment rate rose in regions such as Jeju (2.3 percentage points), Gangwon (1.6 percentage points), and Gyeongnam (0.9 percentage points), but declined in Gyeongbuk (-0.7 percentage points), Gyeonggi (-0.6 percentage points), and Jeonnam (-0.5 percentage points). Chungbuk recorded a slight increase of 0.1 percentage points.

◎ NEWSIS, rainy71@newsis.com



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Source Text

Source: Newsis (May 20, 2026)

** This article was translated from Korean.