SEOUL, Jan. 29 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s National Assembly on Thursday approved a special bill designed to expand government support for the country’s semiconductor industry, underscoring the sector’s growing importance to the nation’s export-driven economy. Passed during a plenary session, the legislation establishes a legal framework for developing large-scale semiconductor clusters and strengthening related infrastructure, as Seoul seeks to reinforce its position in an intensifying global competition for advanced chips. The bill authorizes the designation of semiconductor industrial zones and provides a basis for financial assistance to companies operating within them. Lawmakers, however, left out one of the industry’s most controversial demands: an exemption from the country’s 52-hour workweek for semiconductor researchers. Together, the investments are expected to transform Yongin into the country’s primary semiconductor hub.