The South Korean government says designating General Motor’s assembly lines in the country as a foreign investment zone(FIZ) will depend on the American automaker’s upcoming investment plan in the country. 

An official of the Trade, Industry and Energy Ministry relayed the ministry’s stance in a meeting with reporters at the government complex in Sejong City on Monday, adding the designation as a special foreign investment zone, as requested by GM, is tricky given the strict criteria required to be met. 

The official said, however, it may become possible depending on GM’s new car distribution plan. 

The official stressed that the government is waiting to see GM’s new investment plan, particularly what kind of cars it will distribute to its South Korean factories and under what conditions, adding the local production lines should be able to produce those new cars for at least five years. 

It is not the ministry’s official stance to impose the minimum production period, but the ministry does emphasize GM should maintain its local production base for a mid- and long term.