[Anchor]

President Lee Jae-myung has directly countered opposition party attacks regarding the plan to establish a semiconductor cluster in the Honam region for the second consecutive day. As President Lee criticized the opposition, stating, "Do not denigrate the historic achievement of attracting large-scale investment," the People Power Party pushed back, asking, "Do you view legitimate concerns as slander?"

Reporter Kang Min-u has the story.

[Reporter]

President Lee Jae-myung has posted seven messages on social media over the weekend regarding the plan to build a large-scale semiconductor cluster in the Honam region.

He has actively engaged in a public opinion campaign ahead of a national briefing scheduled for tomorrow, June 29, where the investment plan will be announced in the presence of government ministries and some 60 companies, including Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.

President Lee described this investment plan as "a historic achievement of attracting unprecedented, ultra-large-scale regional investment."

Targeting the conservative opposition, which has criticized the move by questioning whether companies were coerced into investing in the Honam region, he remarked that such a view might be held by those who used to politicize national policies and force companies' arms. He retorted that they should not denigrate others by assuming they would act the same way based on their own past behaviors and experiences.

The People Power Party hit back, asking if the President views even legitimate concerns as political slander, and added the following argument regarding the Honam location.

[Kim Tae-gyu/Deputy Spokesperson for the People Power Party: The government is using corporate money to make investments for a specific region and a specific support base. It is buying votes with other people's money.]

In response, President Lee countered again, stating that this is not preferential treatment for a specific region, but the implementation of a national cause to achieve balanced national development and alleviate conflicts between the Yeongnam and Honam regions, adding a request to refrain from inciting regional conflict.

President Lee will preside over the "Three Mega Projects Briefing," which includes the establishment of the "Honam Semiconductor Cluster," tomorrow. He also plans to announce a plan to appoint officials at the Blue House to support the project and the participating companies.

(Video reporting: Ha Ryung | Video editing: Jang Hyun-ki | Design: Kang Yun-jeong, Im Chan-hyuk)