Korean company Sewon America plans $300 million investment in state

ATLANTA — Sewon America, a subsidiary of Korean-based Sewon Precision Industry Co., will create 740 new jobs in Rincon and invest more than $300 million in a new Effingham County manufacturing facility.

This project is the largest known private investment in the city of Rincon to-date. The announcement by Gov. Brian Kemp also fulfills the commitment to create jobs and investment in all four of the Savannah Harbor Interstate-16 Joint Development Authority counties as a result of Hyundai’s Metaplant location in Bryan County, the largest economic development project in state history. Suppliers for the Metaplant now have committed more than $1.8 billion in investment, surpassing initial estimates by at least $800 million.

“Today we not only celebrate delivering on our promise to create jobs in all four counties in the JDA, but also the growth of a valued partner in our business community,” Kemp said in a news release. “On my very first international trip to Korea as governor, I had the opportunity to congratulate Chairman Kim on the company’s then-recent expansion and discuss how we could continue to work together. I am proud that those discussions have now led to this announcement as Sewon America continues to grow their Georgia operations.”

Speaker of the House Jon Burns, who represents part of Effingham County, also played a role in securing the project and engaging Sewon America executives.

Sewon America operates one of the largest automobile body parts manufacturing plants in North America. The company opened a manufacturing facility in LaGrange in 2008, which has since doubled in size. Following the completion of the Rincon facility, Sewon is expected to support 1,600 jobs in Georgia.

“Sewon America was founded 15 years ago in west Georgia, and I’m very happy to be able to build another Sewon facility in east Georgia,” Kim said. “We are very excited about our future as one family in two Georgia locations.

“This growth is possible thanks to the full support and dedication of the Sewon team members, as well as Gov. Kemp, the Georgia Department of Economic Development, and Effingham County. Sewon America will continue as an excellent corporate and community partner, and we look forward to continued success in Effingham County.”

Sewon’s new facility will be located at the Grande View industrial park in Rincon. The new manufacturing location will produce electric vehicle body parts for original equipment manufacturers, including Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America. Operations are expected to begin in 2025.

“It is my pleasure to welcome Sewon America to our community,” Rincon Mayor Ken Lee said. “We commend our friends and partners at the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority for working diligently to bring what will be the largest employment and private investment project in the city’s history. We look forward to working with Sewon to ensure their long-term success in our community.”

Director of Project Implementation and Supplier Strategy Alyce Thornhill represented the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Global Commerce team on this competitive project in partnership with the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority, Georgia Ports Authority, Georgia Quick Start, and Georgia EMC.

“From working with local colleges and Georgia Quick Start to participating in statewide initiatives like Georgia Made, Sewon has integrated into and lent its own industry experience to Georgia’s automotive community,” GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson said. “We are excited that Sewon is reinvesting in Georgia as they support Hyundai Motor Group’s operations from Effingham County, which has the skilled work force, infrastructure, and collaborative spirit to support the company’s growth. Congratulations to Sewon and Effingham County, and we look forward to the opportunities this creates for the company and community.”

On Oct. 25, 2022, Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America officially broke ground in neighboring Bryan County on its first fully dedicated EV and battery manufacturing facility. Building on the assets that make the automotive industry successful, Georgia is positioned as a hub for the electric mobility industry. Since 2020, more than 35 EV-related projects have announced more than $21 billion in investment and 26,700 jobs in Georgia.

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