Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Deputy Governor Stuart C. McWhorter, and Korea Zinc Chairman Yun B. Choi announced that Korea Zinc will invest over USD 6.6 billion in new production facilities in Clarksville and Gordonsville, Tennessee. This marks the company's first operations in the U.S. and is the largest private corporate investment in Tennessee's history.
Korea Zinc plans to create 420 new jobs in Montgomery County and 320 jobs in Smith County over the next five years. The project includes building a new facility in Clarksville to serve as the U.S. headquarters and a manufacturing center. In Gordonsville, the company will reopen an old mine, bringing back jobs and industry to the area. Korea Zinc is also committed to community involvement, education, and environmental sustainability, and will invest in several locations across the state.
This investment is also part of broader agreements with the White House, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and other partners to help secure critical minerals, which are important for national security and advanced military technology. Korea Zinc’s work reduces U.S. dependence on China for these important minerals.
The announcement follows Governor Lee and Deputy Governor McWhorter's recent trip to Asia to attract foreign investment. With this new investment, South Korea becomes Tennessee's top partner for capital investment, totaling $7.2 billion since Governor Lee took office.