The big picture
The vote comes about six months after commissioners approved a sister city partnership—an agreement likeminded cities can form to promote business or culture—with Yongin City.
In September, County Judge Bill Gravell visited South Korea to sign the agreement and participate in a ceremony signifying the communities’ cooperation, according to county documents.
“The partnership we have with the ... people of South Korea is strong, and this just further strengthens that partnership,” Gravell said at the Jan. 7 meeting.
Zooming in
The South Korean government designated Yongin City as the next generation semiconductor investment hub with over $460 billion by the South Korean government, Samsung and SK Hynix, Gravell said.
After Samsung planted roots in Taylor with its semiconductor plant, which is expected to become operational in 2026, several South Korean companies followed. Gravell said those companies include:
- Soulbrain
- Hanwha
- Hironic
- iMarke
- Hanyang ENG
- Seoyon E-hwa
- Mars Automotive
- MSS International
In case you missed it
On Dec. 20, the United States Department of Commerce awarded Samsung up to $4.74 billion to further the company’s investments in Central Texas, according to previous Community Impact reporting.
The funds will allow Samsung to expand its Austin facility while adding two new semiconductor chip fabrications plants and a research and development plant to Taylor.
Did you know?
Yongin City and Williamson County have similar populations of about 1 million and 700,000 respectively, according to county documents.
Yongin City’s senior leadership will visit Williamson County Jan. 9 and Jan. 10, Gravell said.
Officials plan to stop by Yongin City Boulevard in Taylor, a road county commissioners renamed from CR 404 at a Nov. 19 meeting. The road is a gated entryway into Taylor’s Samsung facility, Precinct 4 Commissioner Russ Boles said Nov. 19.
