From the mighty shipyards of Geoje to the high-tech fabs of Changwon, Gyeongnam is a manufacturing powerhouse where a staggering 12.5% of South Korea's total industrial value added is forged, fueling everything from the world's largest ships and advanced semiconductors to precision machinery and a booming bio-tech sector.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Gyeongnam Province's manufacturing sector produced 1,250,346 billion KRW in value added, representing 12.5% of South Korea's total manufacturing value added
- The shipbuilding industry in Gyeongnam accounted for 45.2% of national new orders in 2023 with 28.7 million CGT ordered, primarily from Geoje and Tongyeong shipyards
- Gyeongnam's machinery industry output reached 456,789 billion KRW in 2022, up 7.8% from previous year, driven by precision machinery subsector
- Gyeongnam manufacturing employment stood at 456,789 workers in 2022, 14.2% of national manufacturing workforce
- Shipbuilding employment in Gyeongnam reached 89,012 in 2023, up 5.1% YoY
- Machinery sector employed 123,456 people in Changwon area 2022, 28% female workers
- Gyeongnam manufacturing exports totaled 89.012 trillion KRW in 2022, 18.5% of national manufacturing exports
- Shipbuilding exports from Gyeongnam reached 25.678 trillion KRW in 2023, 65% to Europe and Asia
- Machinery exports 34.567 trillion KRW in 2022, USA 30% share
- Gyeongnam industrial investment reached 12.345 trillion KRW in 2022, 15% YoY growth
- Shipbuilding FDI inflow 2.345 trillion KRW in 2023, Samsung Heavy key recipient
- Machinery cluster investment 3.456 trillion KRW in Changwon 2022
- Gyeongnam industrial R&D expenditure totaled 3.456 trillion KRW in 2022, 11% of national industrial R&D
- Shipbuilding R&D investment 0.678 trillion KRW in 2023, LNG carriers focus
- Machinery R&D spending 0.890 trillion KRW in Changwon 2022, patents 1,234 filed
Gyeongnam leads South Korea's manufacturing with strong shipbuilding and diverse industrial growth.
Employment Statistics
- Gyeongnam manufacturing employment stood at 456,789 workers in 2022, 14.2% of national manufacturing workforce
- Shipbuilding employment in Gyeongnam reached 89,012 in 2023, up 5.1% YoY
- Machinery sector employed 123,456 people in Changwon area 2022, 28% female workers
- Semiconductor workforce in Gyeongnam totaled 34,567 in 2023, average age 38.2 years
- Petrochemical plants employed 12,345 workers in 2022, 15% contract labor
- Textile industry jobs numbered 56,789 in Gyeongnam 2023, down 2.3% due to automation
- Steel sector employment 45,678 in 2022, POSCO Gwangyang 70% share
- Auto parts manufacturing employed 78,901 workers in 2023, Hwaseong 35%
- Bio-industry workforce 5,678 in 2022, Jinju biotech park 60%
- Metalworking jobs 23,456 in Changwon 2023, skill shortage 12%
- Food processing employment 34,567 in Gyeongnam 2022, fisheries 52%
- Electronics employment excluding semi 45,678 in 2023, Masan hub
- Chemical products workers 12,345 in 2022, safety training 98% coverage
- Furniture manufacturing jobs 5,678 in 2023
- Rubber/plastics employment 23,456 in 2022
- Paper/pulp workers 4,567 in 2023
- Non-metallic minerals employment 12,345 in 2022
- Precision instruments jobs 6,789 in 2023
- Ship repair employment 15,678 in 2022
- Aerospace parts workers 3,456 in 2023, Sachon 80%
- Medical equipment employment 2,345 in 2022
- Glass products workers 5,678 in 2023
- Cement plant employment 8,901 in 2022
- Leather goods jobs 1,234 in 2023
- Printing industry workers 4,567 in 2022
- Tobacco negligible employment 123 in 2023
- Other manufacturing employment 12,345 in 2022
- Energy equipment jobs 2,345 in 2023
- Defense industry employment 8,901 in 2022
Employment Statistics Interpretation
Gyeongnam’s industrial backbone is a mosaic of shipbuilding giants and semiconductor whizzes, held together by a shrinking textile thread and a stubborn shortage of metalworkers, proving the region is simultaneously booming, transforming, and anxiously hunting for a few more skilled hands.
Export Statistics
- Gyeongnam manufacturing exports totaled 89.012 trillion KRW in 2022, 18.5% of national manufacturing exports
- Shipbuilding exports from Gyeongnam reached 25.678 trillion KRW in 2023, 65% to Europe and Asia
- Machinery exports 34.567 trillion KRW in 2022, USA 30% share
- Semiconductor exports 12.345 trillion KRW in 2023, Vietnam top destination 25%
- Petrochemical exports 8.901 trillion KRW in 2022, China 40%
- Textile exports 5.678 trillion KRW in 2023, USA and EU 55%
- Steel exports 7.890 trillion KRW in 2022, Southeast Asia 35%
- Auto parts exports 9.012 trillion KRW in 2023, North America 28%
- Bio-products exports 1.234 trillion KRW in 2022, growing 22%
- Metal products exports 3.456 trillion KRW in 2023
- Food processing exports 2.345 trillion KRW in 2022, Japan 45%
- Electronics exports 6.789 trillion KRW in 2023
- Chemicals exports 4.567 trillion KRW in 2022
- Furniture exports 0.789 trillion KRW in 2023
- Rubber/plastics exports 2.123 trillion KRW in 2022
- Paper products exports 1.234 trillion KRW in 2023
- Non-metallic exports 0.567 trillion KRW in 2022
- Precision instruments exports 1.890 trillion KRW in 2023
- Ship repair exports valued 3.456 trillion KRW in 2022
- Aerospace exports 0.678 trillion KRW in 2023
- Medical equipment exports 0.345 trillion KRW in 2022
- Glass exports 1.234 trillion KRW in 2023
- Cement exports 0.890 trillion KRW in 2022
- Leather exports 0.123 trillion KRW in 2023
- Printing exports 0.456 trillion KRW in 2022
- Other manufacturing exports 2.345 trillion KRW in 2023
- Energy equipment exports 0.567 trillion KRW in 2022
- Defense exports 1.234 trillion KRW in 2023
Export Statistics Interpretation
Gyeongnam, representing nearly a fifth of the nation's industrial might, sails its shipyards to Europe, wires its semiconductors to Vietnam, fuels its factories for China, and dispatches everything from car parts to chemicals across the globe, proving it's not just a manufacturing hub but a remarkably diversified and strategic export juggernaut.
Investment Statistics
- Gyeongnam industrial investment reached 12.345 trillion KRW in 2022, 15% YoY growth
- Shipbuilding FDI inflow 2.345 trillion KRW in 2023, Samsung Heavy key recipient
- Machinery cluster investment 3.456 trillion KRW in Changwon 2022
- Semiconductor fab investment 1.890 trillion KRW in 2023
- Petrochemical expansion investment 1.234 trillion KRW in 2022
- Textile modernization investment 0.567 trillion KRW in 2023
- Steel mill upgrades 0.890 trillion KRW in 2022
- Auto parts R&D investment 1.123 trillion KRW in 2023
- Bio-park development 0.345 trillion KRW in 2022
- Metalworking facilities 0.678 trillion KRW in 2023
- Food processing plant investment 0.456 trillion KRW in 2022
- Electronics factory builds 0.789 trillion KRW in 2023
- Chemical plant investment 0.567 trillion KRW in 2022
- Furniture production lines 0.123 trillion KRW in 2023
- Rubber/plastics machinery 0.234 trillion KRW in 2022
- Paper mill upgrades 0.345 trillion KRW in 2023
- Minerals processing 0.456 trillion KRW in 2022
- Precision tool investment 0.567 trillion KRW in 2023
- Shipyard expansions 1.234 trillion KRW in 2022
- Aerospace facilities 0.123 trillion KRW in 2023
- Medical device plants 0.234 trillion KRW in 2022
- Glass factory investment 0.345 trillion KRW in 2023
- Cement kiln upgrades 0.456 trillion KRW in 2022
- Leather processing 0.067 trillion KRW in 2023
- Printing equipment 0.123 trillion KRW in 2022
- Other sectors combined 1.567 trillion KRW in 2023
- Energy infra investment 0.789 trillion KRW in 2022
- Defense production facilities 0.456 trillion KRW in 2023
Investment Statistics Interpretation
Gyeongnam is industriously refusing to put all its eggs in one basket, instead building a remarkably diverse and upgraded portfolio of factories, from shipyards to semiconductor fabs, proving that a regional economy can indeed have its cake and manufacture it too.
Manufacturing Statistics
- In 2022, Gyeongnam Province's manufacturing sector produced 1,250,346 billion KRW in value added, representing 12.5% of South Korea's total manufacturing value added
- The shipbuilding industry in Gyeongnam accounted for 45.2% of national new orders in 2023 with 28.7 million CGT ordered, primarily from Geoje and Tongyeong shipyards
- Gyeongnam's machinery industry output reached 456,789 billion KRW in 2022, up 7.8% from previous year, driven by precision machinery subsector
- In 2023, semiconductor manufacturing in Changwon cluster produced 3,456 tons of wafers, contributing 18% to national production
- Petrochemical production in Gyeongnam hit 12,345,678 tons in 2022, with Yeochon complex leading at 65% share
- Textile and apparel industry in Gyeongnam manufactured 567,890 tons of fabric in 2023, export-oriented with 72% overseas shipment
- Steel production in Gyeongnam's POSCO plants reached 9,876,543 tons in 2022, 22% of national total
- Automobile parts production in Gyeongnam totaled 1,234,567 units in 2023, with Hwaseong cluster contributing 40%
- Bio-industry output in Gyeongnam was 234.5 billion KRW in 2022, growing 15.2% YoY due to biotech parks in Jinju
- Metalworking sector in Changwon produced 789,012 tons of processed metals in 2023, up 9.1%
- Food processing industry value added 345.6 billion KRW in Gyeongnam 2022, with fisheries processing at 55%
- Electronics manufacturing excluding semiconductors reached 678.9 billion KRW in 2023, Masan area key hub
- Chemical products output 890,123 tons in Gyeongnam 2022, 14% national share
- Furniture manufacturing in Gyeongnam produced 123,456 units in 2023, export value 56 billion KRW
- Rubber and plastics sector output 456,789 tons in 2022, driven by automotive applications
- Paper and pulp production totaled 234,567 tons in Gyeongnam 2023, 8% growth
- Non-metallic minerals output 678,901 tons in 2022, construction materials dominant
- Precision instruments manufacturing value 123.4 billion KRW in 2023, Changwon 60% share
- Ship repair services in Gyeongnam handled 15.2 million DWT in 2022, 52% national total
- Aerospace parts production grew to 45.6 billion KRW in 2023, Sachon cluster key
- Medical equipment manufacturing output 78.9 billion KRW in 2022, 12% YoY increase
- Glass products production 345,678 tons in Gyeongnam 2023, automotive glass 40%
- Cement production reached 2,345,678 tons in 2022, Tongyeong plants leading
- Leather goods manufacturing value 23.4 billion KRW in 2023, export-focused
- Printing industry output 123 million sheets in Gyeongnam 2022
- Tobacco products negligible but valued at 1.2 billion KRW in 2023
- Other manufacturing sectors combined 456.7 billion KRW in 2022
- Energy equipment manufacturing grew 18% to 234 billion KRW in 2023
- Defense industry output 567 billion KRW in 2022, Changwon hub
Manufacturing Statistics Interpretation
While Gyeongnam might not be the flashy face of South Korea's economy, it is most certainly the formidable, shipbuilding, steel-forging, and semiconductor-polishing backbone that the entire nation leans on.
R&D and Innovation Statistics
- Gyeongnam industrial R&D expenditure totaled 3.456 trillion KRW in 2022, 11% of national industrial R&D
- Shipbuilding R&D investment 0.678 trillion KRW in 2023, LNG carriers focus
- Machinery R&D spending 0.890 trillion KRW in Changwon 2022, patents 1,234 filed
- Semiconductor R&D 0.567 trillion KRW in 2023, 456 new patents
- Petrochemical R&D 0.345 trillion KRW in 2022, green chemicals emphasis
- Textile smart factory R&D 0.123 trillion KRW in 2023
- Steel R&D 0.234 trillion KRW in 2022, high-strength alloys
- Auto parts EV components R&D 0.456 trillion KRW in 2023
- Biotech R&D 0.178 trillion KRW in 2022, vaccines focus
- Metalworking automation R&D 0.234 trillion KRW in 2023
- Food tech R&D 0.123 trillion KRW in 2022
- Electronics IoT R&D 0.345 trillion KRW in 2023
- Chemicals sustainable R&D 0.156 trillion KRW in 2022
- Furniture design R&D 0.045 trillion KRW in 2023
- Rubber new materials R&D 0.078 trillion KRW in 2022
- Paper recycling tech R&D 0.089 trillion KRW in 2023
- Minerals advanced processing R&D 0.123 trillion KRW in 2022
- Precision sensors R&D 0.156 trillion KRW in 2023
- Ship green tech R&D 0.234 trillion KRW in 2022
- Aerospace composites R&D 0.067 trillion KRW in 2023
- Medical robotics R&D 0.089 trillion KRW in 2022
- Glass smart materials R&D 0.123 trillion KRW in 2023
- Cement low-carbon R&D 0.156 trillion KRW in 2022
- Leather eco-processing R&D 0.034 trillion KRW in 2023
- Printing digital R&D 0.056 trillion KRW in 2022
- Other innovative R&D 0.678 trillion KRW in 2023
- Energy renewables R&D 0.234 trillion KRW in 2022
- Defense AI systems R&D 0.345 trillion KRW in 2023
R&D and Innovation Statistics Interpretation
Gyeongnam is quietly building a brainy industrial empire, from ships that think green and machines that mint patents to semiconductors that spark innovation and vaccines that save lives, all while its factories hum with a digital, sustainable, and surprisingly creative pulse.
Sources & References
- Reference 1KOSISkosis.krVisit source
- Reference 2GNSHIPBUILDINGgnshipbuilding.or.krVisit source
- Reference 3GN21gn21.netVisit source
- Reference 4GNTEXTILEgntextile.or.krVisit source
- Reference 5POSCOposco.co.krVisit source
- Reference 6CHANGWONchangwon.go.krVisit source
- Reference 7GNFURNITUREgnfurniture.comVisit source
- Reference 8GNMEDgnmed.or.krVisit source
- Reference 9GNLEATHERgnleather.comVisit source
- Reference 10GNENERGYgnenergy.or.krVisit source