The newly finalized sister city agreement between Williamson County, Texas, and Yongin City, South Korea, emphasizes their shared commitment to technology and innovation. This partnership aims to foster educational exchanges and promote growth in the semiconductor industry.
In Williamson County, January 9th, 2025, will forever be remembered as “Yongin City Day,” commemorating the finalization of the sister city agreement between Williamson County, Texas, and Yongin City of Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Yongin City Mayor Sang Il Lee traveled to Texas to formalize the partnership between the two regions last month. The agreement, originally approved in July 2024 and signed by Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell during a September 2024 visit to Yongin City, seeks to strengthen collaboration between the two cities, particularly in the areas of technology, innovation, and education.
South Korean tech giant Samsung’s presence in both localities is a key highlight of the partnership. The firm recently pledged to invest $17 billion towards a new semiconductor plant in Taylor, Texas—within Williamson County—representing Samsung’s largest investment in the United States to date. The investment in the outskirts of the state’s capital was driven by a $6.4 billion initial contribution towards the new facility from the CHIPS and Science Act. Enacted in 2022, the act is designed to tackle the critical shortage of microchips and ensure the long-term stability of the US semiconductor supply chain. Samsung’s investment has drawn attention from other South Korean firms as well: seven have followed Samsung to Texas, and 13 more have expressed interest in expanding to Williamson County. Many of these are also tech companies involved in semiconductor manufacturing, such as SoulBrain, a firm that synthesizes chemicals used in semiconductor manufacturing. The company has received significant tax incentives from the Williamson County government to support its new operations in the area.
As far as partners go, Yongin City is on track to become a global powerhouse within the semiconductor industry, having been recognized as a next-generation semiconductor hub by the Korean government. In 2023, Samsung announced an investment project of 300 trillion won ($230 billion) to establish the Yongin Semiconductor National Industrial Complex—a mega cluster of chip production plants and enterprise partners in Yongin City. The complex will accommodate six state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities (fabs), three power stations, and over 60 small and medium-sized businesses supplying materials and equipment. Construction of the semiconductor complex is slated to begin in December 2026, with hopes of being operational by 2030. This growing international focus has not gone unnoticed by Williamson County, which has been establishing deeper trade ties with South Korea, including establishing a trade office in Seoul to facilitate further business connections.
While semiconductors and trade are the main highlights of the new sister city partnership, the agreement also emphasizes two other pillars: education and cultural exchanges. Although these areas are still in the early stages of development, there are already indications that plans are underway. In the days and weeks following the sister city agreement, authorities have teased potential news regarding an educational partnership centered around Texas State University’s Round Rock campus.
In terms of cultural exchange, when Mayor Lee visited Williamson County to sign the sister city agreement, he received gifts, including Tecovas boots, and had the opportunity to learn to lasso. The official partnership comes as Williamson County has recently seen an increase in cultural visibility for Asian communities, with initiatives such as Asian cultural centers and a daycare for international students. This shift highlights the broader trend of Asian Americans being the fastest-growing ethnic group in Texas, with the Korean American population exceeding 111,000—more than half of whom speak Korean at home, according to the East-West Center Korea Matters for America (2023) publication. With the new sister city partnership, there is a renewed sense of pride as Koreans coming to Texas view it as a privilege and an opportunity. Director Eunhyon Chi of the Williamson County Economic Development Partnership noted in an interview to the Korea Economic Institute that “Koreans...also embrace the Texas-ness...they are coming here very curious...and they talk about it, what a privilege it is to be here.” This sentiment reflects the blending of cultures, as Koreans bring businesses and cultural richness while embracing the Texan spirit. The blossoming partnership is expected to further strengthen demand for services that bridge cultures and provide opportunities for continued cultural, educational, and economic exchange.
The Sister Cities Series covers notable Sister City Partnerships with Asia across the United States, highlighting cooperation and exchange serving as a foundation to improve relations and understanding between peoples and localities in the United States and the Indo-Pacific.
Emma Potts is a Spring 2025 Young Professional at the East-West Center in Washington. Emma recently graduated from Columbia University, majoring in Political Science and East Asian Languages & Cultures.
Tommis Meyer is a Spring 2025 Young Professional Intern at the East-West Center in Washington. Tommis is also in his final semester pursuing an undergraduate degree in Global International Relations at American University under its Joint Degree Program with Ritsumeikan University in Japan.