President Lee Jae-myung stated, "To overcome the capital-centric system, it is essential to implement a groundbreaking diversification of strategic industries by expanding large-scale investments in core high-tech sectors to regions including Yeongnam, Chungcheong, Gangwon, Jeju, and Honam."

President Lee made these remarks while presiding over a meeting of senior secretaries at the Blue House, adding, "The key to moving toward a better nation is to ensure that fair growth opportunities can be enjoyed anywhere in South Korea."

President Lee pointed out, "The phenomenal growth effects of certain industries have not spread to local regions, which account for 90% of the nation's territory, potentially deepening the divide in terms of balanced national development."

He further remarked, "If we fail to overcome the current capital-centric system where the Seoul metropolitan area absorbs everything, the positive winds of change we are currently experiencing could cease to be anything more than a light breeze, or worse, could transform into a storm of crisis that is difficult to even imagine."

President Lee emphasized, "We must upgrade the core infrastructure of the capital region while simultaneously building new industrial and economic foundations across local regions to ensure an era of growth for all, where both the capital and the provinces can 'win-win'."

He also introduced, "We plan to report a concrete blueprint regarding this to the public soon."

In addition, he added, "We will also expedite legal revisions to provide more opportunities to regions that have been marginalized until now, across areas such as finance, industry, and economic infrastructure construction."

President Lee's remarks come amid speculation in the business community that Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are expected to announce detailed investment plans for semiconductor clusters in regions such as Honam and Chungcheong at a public-private joint meeting hosted by the Blue House next week.

Previously, Kim Yong-beom, the Blue House Policy Chief, also explained at a debate hosted by the Kwanhun Club the day before regarding plans to create a second semiconductor cluster in Honam and Chungcheong, stating, "We are nearing the final stages of discussion," and "Once finalized, we intend to arrange an opportunity for companies and relevant ministries to explain it to the public all at once."

With concerns emerging from regions like Yeongnam regarding the prospect of creating a second cluster in Chungcheong and Honam, President Lee's mention of not only Chungcheong and Honam but also Yeongnam, Gangwon, and Jeju as areas for investment expansion is interpreted as a reflection of his determination to achieve the diversification of core strategic industries through balanced investment across all local regions.

(Photo: Yonhap News)