Signal Gwangju photonics and Jeonbuk carbon show regions growing national flagship industries

Summary

Gwangju's photonics industry and North Jeolla's carbon industry are cited as regional industries that grew into national flagships through unrelated diversification. Gwangju's cluster began with an optical-technology proposal by a GIST professor, and the city used national funds to build an LED and optical-communication complex. When LED was designated a sector reserved for small and medium firms in 2011, large companies were held back, so the city turned to attracting outside firms and local start-ups and later raised sales per firm. North Jeolla's carbon industry grew in the 2000s from national demand to localize carbon fiber, then wholly imported from Japan, and was cemented by attracting Hyosung. A carbon valley, a KIST branch and stronger support agencies followed, and the long tenure of the local leader widened the industry from Jeonju to the whole province. The author argues both cases show that regions can create new advanced industries regardless of the central excellence doctrine.