People Power Party Strongly Protests, Demanding Parliamentary Probe into "Confessed Government Intervention"

[Anchor]

The People Power Party is strongly protesting the semiconductor investment plan for the Honam region, calling it an unfair decision. Some have even argued for a parliamentary investigation, claiming it is a case of government-led intervention that strips companies of their autonomous decision-making power.

Reporter Kim Bo-mi has the story.

[Reporter]

At the People Power Party Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly this morning (June 29).

Sharp criticism was poured out ahead of the Blue House's scheduled announcement of the semiconductor investment plan for the Honam region.

Floor Leader Jung Jeom-sik criticized President Lee Jae-myung’s remarks from two days ago on social media, where he stated that this Honam semiconductor investment should be called administrative guidance or promotional administration. Jung labeled it a "confession of government-led intervention, admitting that the location was decided by government interference."

[Jung Jeom-sik / People Power Party Floor Leader: The very fact that two competing major companies are simultaneously announcing large-scale investment plans for the same location suggests that this project is based on government intervention rather than the companies' autonomous judgment...]

Floor Leader Jung added that he is not against semiconductor plants going to Gwangju or South Jeolla Province, but that it is necessary to question whether the location was decided through a transparent and objective process in a situation where all regions across the country are competing to attract investment.

People Power Party Supreme Council members strongly criticized the move, questioning whether it was an announcement aimed at winning over voters in the Honam region ahead of the Democratic Party's upcoming leadership election, and called for a parliamentary investigation.

[Shin Dong-wook / People Power Party Supreme Council Member: President Lee Jae-myung has no basis for claiming that there is sufficient water in Gwangju and South Jeolla Province. I believe these are matters that will lead to prison time later on.]

National Assembly members and city mayors and provincial governors from the Chungcheong region belonging to the People Power Party held a press conference this morning, criticizing this investment decision as the "regime's strangulation of companies" and demanded an explanation as to why the Chungcheong region could not be an alternative.

[Sung Il-jong / People Power Party Lawmaker: There is even talk of diverting water from the Chungcheong region to connect it to the Honam semiconductor complex. If this is not inciting regional conflict while claiming to pursue balanced regional development, then what is it?]

This afternoon, Daegu Mayor-elect Hong Joon-pyo, North Gyeongsang Province Governor Lee Cheol-woo, and People Power Party lawmakers from Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province are also scheduled to hold a press conference and release a statement criticizing the decision on the Honam semiconductor investment.

(Video coverage: Lee Seung-hwan, Shin Dong-hwan | Video editing: Oh Young-taek)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.