[1-Minute Cut] Top-tier Infrastructure, Poor Connectivity: Opportunities and Challenges in Jeonbuk’s Carbon Industry

[Cheonji Ilbo Jeonbuk=Reporter Kim Dong-hyun] Jeonbuk, which was the first in the nation to launch a carbon material industry, marks its 20th year in the sector. Despite having established a full-cycle infrastructure that includes testing, demonstration, and certification, the industry has yet to produce tangible economic outcomes for the region. Limitations remain in producing finished products and entering the global supply chain.

The Jeonbuk provincial government and Jeonju city are seeking to expand the industry by linking it with strategic sectors such as defense, aerospace, and secondary batteries. However, the fragmented industrial complexes and the lack of final product manufacturing capabilities continue to be major challenges.

A recent decision by Hyosung Advanced Materials to invest 100 billion KRW in carbon fiber production in Jeonju has sparked renewed interest in Jeonbuk’s carbon industry. Nevertheless, experts point out that without long-term structural reforms, the sustainability of such investments remains uncertain.

Jeonbuk now stands at a crossroads, needing to move beyond public-sector-led accumulation toward fostering private investment and building an integrated industrial ecosystem that can yield visible outcomes.