Hong Ik-pyo: "Honam is Optimal for Semiconductor Plants, from Water and Electricity to Research Infrastructure... Not Government Arm-Twisting"

- Three Mega-Projects? Expansion Needed Due to Rising Semiconductor Demand
- Honam Semiconductor Investment: Viewing It as a Regional Issue Misses the Essence
- Investment in Yongin to Continue... More Plans Outside Honam to Come
- Why Honam is the Optimal Site? Ample Land and Surplus Power
- Water Scarcity? Review Already Completed... Yeongsan and Seomjin Rivers are Sufficient
- Arm-Twisting Companies? It's a Multi-Decade Project, Would They Go Just by Government Coercion?
- President Lee Meeting Former President Moon? Discussing National Issues and Unity of the Democratic Camp
- Internal Party Conflict Must Be Eased... Shifting from "Mockery-Driven Political Warfare" to Healthy Competition
- Abolishing Supplementary Investigative Power? President Lee Wanted to Keep It to Minimize Side Effects, But...
- Respecting the Approach of Abolishing First and Supplementing Later, as Demanded by Political Circles
- More Effective for the National Assembly to Devise Safeguards Through Deliberation
- President Lee's Approval Rating Dropping? Not Overreacting to Fluctuations... Internal Party Conflict Also Had an Impact
- Rhyu Si-min's "Reconstruction Theory"? Whether to Redevelop is for the Public to Decide
 
■ Broadcast: SBS Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show (FM 103.5 MHz 7:00 - 9:00)
■ Date: Monday, June 29, 2026
■ Host: Attorney Kim Tae-hyun
■ Guest: Hong Ik-pyo, Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: As announced, for the first part of today's interview, we have Hong Ik-pyo, the Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs, to discuss various issues. Welcome, Secretary Hong.
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: Glad to be here. Hello.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: This is your first appearance since taking office. Belated congratulations.
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: Thank you.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: You've taken on a very important role.
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: Quite some time has passed already.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Compared to when you were a lawmaker, how is working at Cheong Wa Dae?
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: It is much harder.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: It must be grueling work, right?
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: Indeed. When I was a lawmaker, there was a lot of work, but basically, schedule management revolved around myself. At Cheong Wa Dae, however, all schedules are naturally centered around the President, and we have to act as the control tower for overall state affairs. That's why the moment people enter Cheong Wa Dae, within about a week, almost everyone experiences a moment of wondering, "Why did I come here?"
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: That shows just how important the position is. At 2 p.m. today, Cheong Wa Dae will hold the "National Report Meeting on the Three Mega-Projects for South Korea's Great Leap Forward," and it is reported that Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won will attend. What will be announced today?
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: As you well know, the Three Mega-Projects will be announced today. The three projects are semiconductors, physical AI, and AI data centers. As you know, the world is currently in a war over science and technology, the core of which is semiconductors—even the term "chip war" is being used. In that sense, as global competition surrounding semiconductors intensifies, large-scale additional investment is required. Since this cannot be achieved by corporations alone, the government, businesses, and various social energies must come together to invest. To this end, the relevant companies and the government will jointly hold the National Report Meeting on the Three Mega-Projects.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: According to reports, semiconductors will go to Honam, physical AI to Yeongnam, and data centers to Chungcheong and Gangwon. The investment amount was initially reported to be 1,000 trillion won, but now there are talks of 2,000 trillion won. Will the specific figures be released today?
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: Rough figures will likely be announced during the report meeting at 2 p.m. today.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Could it really reach 2,000 trillion won?
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: Well, that is not something I can disclose here. I believe the chairmen of the respective companies will announce it at the event. I understand that SK and Samsung Electronics will each make announcements regarding their investment scales.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: However, the People Power Party and conservative media seem to be taking issue with Samsung and SK hynix investing in Honam. The President posted seven messages on social media over the weekend alone regarding this matter. What is the reason for such an active response?
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: I think he feels somewhat frustrated. As I mentioned earlier, this is a national project and, in a sense, a matter of global competitiveness. If we narrow our perspective and approach this as an issue between Yeongnam and Honam, or between the metropolitan area and the provinces, we miss the essence. Currently, countries all over the world are focusing on semiconductor investments. This is because the demand for semiconductors is growing exponentially. This is not a temporary phenomenon; rather, structural competition in semiconductors has been ongoing for a considerable period. To secure this semiconductor demand, South Korea must also build large-scale clusters. This is not about scattered investments. Large-scale projects are already underway or planned in places like Eindhoven in Europe and Phoenix in the United States. Since we have to compete with them, we cannot view this simply as a matter of Yeongnam versus Honam, or the metropolitan area versus the provinces.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Yes.
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: Some are asking, "Then what happens to Yongin?"
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Yongin and Pyeongtaek.
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: Investments will continue in Yongin and other parts of Gyeonggi Province. However, because that alone cannot keep up with demand, we aim to maintain our global competitiveness by meeting the additional expected demand through large-scale investments in the Honam and southwestern regions.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: So, you are not taking away what is in Yongin, but keeping Yongin as is and adding more in Honam because it is not enough.
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: That is correct. And this is merely the first phase of the large-scale investment plan. Of course, subsequent plans may not be executed within the Lee Jae-myung administration, but as far as I know, Samsung and SK are continuously preparing additional large-scale investment plans. Therefore, instead of complaining, "What about us?" just because investments are being made in the southwestern region centered on Honam this time, we need to prepare together so that large-scale investments can be made in other regions in the future.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: What is the reason for determining that Honam is the optimal site?
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: Recently, the most important factor is, first of all, land. There must be available sites. While Honam is not the only region with available land, as many other regions have it too, the additional requirements are power supply, water, and most importantly, research institutions and human talent. An eligible investment site must have all of these combined. I already mentioned the land issue.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Yes.
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: Second, regarding power, the Honam region actually has a very comfortable surplus in power supply. Even looking at Honam as a whole, it has a surplus power capacity of over 130%, and Gwangju alone has about a 170% surplus. A particularly advantageous aspect for Honam is that due to RE100, while semiconductor manufacturing processes consume a lot of electricity, it is even more crucial to source it from renewable energy. In terms of renewable energy, the southwestern region possesses significant competitiveness. As for water, despite some concerns, a review has already been completed showing that a sufficient water supply can be secured through the Yeongsan and Seomjin Rivers.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Yes.
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: Furthermore, we believe the Honam region already has the infrastructure of research institutions and talent capable of providing specialized personnel, including the Korea Institute of Energy Technology (KENTECH), the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), and Chonnam National University.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: You also mentioned that there are some concerns about water scarcity. Looking at the reports this morning, some point out that the Yeongsan River itself lacks sufficient water, sometimes drawing water from the Seomjin River, and that the water quality is not clean enough. Since semiconductor manufacturing requires a large amount of clean water, people worry if it will be okay. Will it be fine?
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: It will be fine. We have thoroughly reviewed this. Since power and water issues are fundamental and of utmost importance to the companies, thorough reviews have been conducted and alternative plans have been established.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: However, the opposition People Power Party is raising questions, asking, "Didn't the government twist the arms of Samsung and SK hynix, Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Chairman Chey Tae-won, to force this decision?" They are using expressions like "arm-twisting," "abuse of authority," and even "ammunition for the Myeong-Cheong Battle."
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: I think that is an excessive political interpretation. These days, global conglomerates do not just go anywhere because their arms are twisted. If there is absolutely no economic benefit, they won't go. Moreover, investments in fabs or semiconductor clusters are made with a view of decades, not just 10 or 20 years. From the perspective of a global conglomerate, would they make such a move just because a government with four years remaining in its term twists their arm? That is an overinterpretation. There are sufficient economic benefits, and their own corporate managerial decisions take precedence. It is just that the central and local governments need to make efforts to support and collaborate with them.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Yes.
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: You can see this trend recently. Globally, the semiconductor industry is no longer something companies pursue entirely on their own. Didn't even our government and parliament step forward to support it when we passed the Special Act on Semiconductors?
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Yes, government support is necessary.
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: Because it is happening not just in our country but worldwide, it is a combination of corporate managerial decisions and the full-fledged support of the central and local governments. It is inappropriate to describe it as if the government twisted their arms. While Yeongnam was excluded this time, politicians in those regions should seriously contemplate how to prepare for the future of Yeongnam and other areas.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Understood. Let's move on to political matters. It has been reported that President Lee Jae-myung will meet with former President Moon Jae-in. According to the reports, preparations for this meeting have been underway since immediately after the President's inauguration. Why did it take over a year to finally happen?
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: Meetings with major influential politicians, especially a former president, can easily get pushed back continuously if scheduling adjustments fail even once. Before I took office, former Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Woo Sang-ho handled this matter, and I heard from him that such efforts were underway. After I took office, I immediately made contact regarding this and we made various efforts to arrange the meeting. Therefore, it cannot be seen as a rushed, makeshift meeting arranged in response to recent situations. Of course, for politicians, there is always a certain momentum or occasion. It is true that meetings are held when needed due to specific issues. Along with that momentum, former President Moon Jae-in is a respected elder of the Democratic Party and one of the few politicians in our political arena who can share experience and wisdom with President Lee Jae-myung as a former president.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Indeed.
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: In that sense, I would like to say that the meeting between the two has been prepared and planned multiple times.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Coincidentally, it is happening now. Meeting a former president is certainly a good thing and something that should naturally be done. However, ahead of the party convention, there is so much talk about the "Myeong-Cheong Battle" and conflicts between the pro-Moon, pro-Roh factions, and the "New Lee Jae-myung" faction. Is it safe to assume that this was also kept in mind?
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: National issues are the top priority. As I mentioned earlier, South Korea has achieved normalization and recovery by overcoming internal turmoil. Now, moving beyond that, we are in a period of challenge and leap forward to make South Korea irreplaceable. In that sense, sharing wisdom with a former president is the primary goal.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Yes.
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: Second, social integration and, if necessary, political integration within our democratic camp are also very important tasks. In fact, the President also mentioned in a recent press conference that comrades should be careful with the language they use. He asked why people try to wage war instead of competing, using mocking or insulting language as if they would never see each other again, and why they fail to acknowledge the existence of the other side.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Yes.
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: In that sense, unnecessary mockery and derogatory terms directed at former President Moon Jae-in and others in the past are wrong. Conversely, other terms were created as a reaction. In the past, President Lee Jae-myung himself was the target of such mockery and contempt. I can hardly bring myself to repeat those words on this broadcast.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Yes.
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: In that regard, since both presidents are politicians who have shared the experience of being subjected to such mockery and contempt, I believe they share the view that this should not be repeated or escalated.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: At any rate, ahead of the party convention, referring to them as "both camps" is a bit of an odd expression, but this meeting could serve as a mechanism to ease internal conflicts.
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: It should. What I am saying is that there is always competition and sometimes fighting in politics. However, I hope that fight is forward-looking and for the sake of the people, becoming a healthy competition.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: By the way, the conflict ahead of this party convention seems to be intensifying too much. How does the President view this situation?
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: As I mentioned earlier, the President believes that competition in politics has always existed and does not think it is inherently bad. However, he hopes it is a competition for the country, the people, and preparing for our future—asking what and whom the competition is for.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Regarding the issue of abolishing the supplementary investigative power, the President recently stated twice that keeping it to some extent is his personal belief, but that he would leave the deliberation process to the National Assembly.
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: Yes.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: However, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok recently stated that the government's position is to abolish the supplementary investigative power. This seems to differ somewhat from the President's thoughts. Was there some level of communication with Cheong Wa Dae, or was this Prime Minister Kim acting on his own?
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: That was, of course, discussed and deliberated with us to some extent. This is because—
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: It just seemed a bit different from what the President said.
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: The President has had three basic principles from beginning to end. First, the separation of investigation and prosecution is the fundamental principle. Second, the side effects of abolishing the supplementary investigative power must be minimized. Third, the core of this entire process is that there must be no violation of public human rights or damage to the people. Regarding the supplementary investigative power, there are two approaches. One is to leave a portion of the supplementary investigative power to minimize the side effects of the prosecution's abuse of investigative power.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Yes.
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: The other approach is to address how to compensate for potential investigative delays or public harm that may arise if the prosecution's supplementary investigative power is abolished. The President actually thought the former approach might be more beneficial to the public, but he also noted that if there is backlash and concern in political circles, the latter approach is also acceptable. This time, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok consolidated the government's stance using the latter approach and asked the National Assembly to finalize the legislative process based on it.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: But wouldn't it have been fine to submit a government bill if the government's position had been consolidated? Why was the ball passed to the National Assembly? Was it because of the deliberation process?
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: Yes, I believe so. If the government were to submit a bill, it would trigger further debate. Since legislative power originally belongs to the National Assembly—it's not about granting them the power, but rather that the power inherently resides there—we judged that it would be more effective and lead to speedier legislation if the National Assembly devises safeguards through deliberation and creates measures to minimize the side effects of abolishing the supplementary investigative power.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Understood. Recently, the President's approval rating, which had been riding high, has dipped slightly. While there are differences in figures depending on the survey methods and polling organizations, the graph shows a decline. Where does Cheong Wa Dae see the cause?
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: Well, there is a textbook answer that politicians always give in these situations: "We will not overreact to fluctuations in approval ratings."
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Right.
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: While it is impossible not to care, I also believe we shouldn't let ourselves be swayed too much. I think both aspects are true.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Yes.
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: On one hand, approval ratings are a phenomenon that appears within a certain flow, and reacting too sensitively to them can cause us to miss long-term plans or truly important matters. While we take changes in approval ratings seriously and need to observe the trend, we believe policies should not fluctuate wildly based on them. When we consider the reasons behind the changes in approval ratings, there are several factors. Recently, there were shortcomings regarding the local elections, and second, more directly, the National Election Commission (NEC) scandal had an impact.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Yes.
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: Furthermore, recent internal party conflicts have played a role. In political parties, whenever internal conflict arises, approval ratings inevitably drop.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: That's true.
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: I believe these three factors are intertwined.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: It ultimately comes down to internal party conflict. Kim Eo-jun says it is because the core supporters are leaving, and that they are currently watching with their arms crossed. Author Rhyu Si-min recently appeared on Kim Eo-jun's YouTube channel and suggested that the President might have been overconfident. He said while the supporters wanted an "expansion," the President is doing a "reconstruction." He added that to do so, everything existing must be demolished, and that demolition services have been deployed. How does Cheong Wa Dae view these remarks by Rhyu Si-min?
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: Well, while Author Rhyu's remarks carry significant influence, it is difficult for us to respond to every single comment made by an individual. But looking at it, I feel this way: since technical terms like "expansion" and "reconstruction" have suddenly come up, I think there is also "redevelopment." However, that depends on the situation at any given time. In urban development, if it is an issue with an individual house, we do an expansion, redevelopment, or reconstruction. If the entire area is the problem, we do urban regeneration or redevelopment.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Yes.
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: I believe it is the public, not political circles, that decides this. As the President always says, politics may seem to be conducted by politicians, but it is actually done by the people. We need to contemplate what the public desires and what is necessary to open up South Korea's future, listening to the public's opinions rather than engaging in internal debates.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Yes.
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: Kim Eo-jun's comment that the core supporters have turned away or are watching with folded arms is partially correct. Approval ratings do not drop from just one side. They drop among moderates, and in the case of core supporters, they sometimes choose not to respond, meaning they do not participate in polls. In that sense, since the drop is happening on both sides, we should not view this phenomenon solely as an issue of core supporters or moderates. It appears to be a simultaneous phenomenon driven by the three factors I mentioned earlier.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: From your perspective, is there even a small part of Author Rhyu Si-min's "reconstruction theory" that you sympathize with, or do you disagree entirely?
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: If I react to that here, it will turn into another fight. In any case, there will be various arguments, and I hope those arguments lead to healthy discussions. Rather than belittling, mocking, or attacking a specific individual, we should discuss what the future of South Korea is, and what choices, changes, and judgments the Democratic Party should make in that journey. Whether we need an expansion, reconstruction, or even redevelopment as I mentioned, those choices should be judged within the context of such discussions.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Understood. This is the last question, and we have about 30 seconds left. After returning from Europe, the President had dinner with Representative Song Young-gil that evening. Some say the President told Representative Song, "Brother, I am having such a hard and lonely time lately." Is the President carrying a lot of worries these days?
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: That report is not true.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Really?
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: Yes. Those reports are highly speculative. In any case, the President has recently been meeting with various people in different formats to listen to their opinions.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun]: Understood. We will wrap up here. This was Hong Ik-pyo, the Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs. Thank you.
 
[Hong Ik-pyo]: Thank you.

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