President Lee Jae-myung: "Honam Investment Is Just a Drop in the Bucket Compared to History"

President Lee Jae-myung stated regarding the government-announced semiconductor cluster project in the southwestern region, "While it is true that this specific project involves a significant amount of investment in the Honam region, when compared to the historically accumulated volume of investment, it is merely a drop in the bucket."

During the Cabinet meeting and emergency economic review meeting he presided over at the Blue House, President Lee said, "There seem to be claims of regional discrimination (regarding this announcement), but I ask for everyone's understanding," and made the remarks above.

President Lee explained, "It is a painful past, but it is an undeniable fact that there was discrimination between the Yeongnam and Honam regions," adding, "Honam has suffered many difficulties due to exclusion and discrimination, but there is an aspect where this has turned into a blessing in disguise, as water, electricity, and land have been well-managed."

He continued, "High-tech industries, especially the semiconductor industry, rely most heavily on electricity, water, and land, and the capital region is no longer able to secure more power and water," and said, "With the AI boom creating a need for large-scale investment, Honam was the space with the capacity, which led to this decision."

He emphasized, "We could not forcibly correct (regional discrimination), but the new environment has created a situation that can at least slightly alleviate that imbalance."

President Lee also stated, "The three major mega-projects for the Republic of Korea's great leap forward, announced yesterday, are the key to overcoming the capital-centric system that breeds discrimination, exclusion, and imbalance, while opening an era of 'growth for all' where the entire nation enjoys even growth opportunities," adding, "I once again thank the business leaders who made bold decisions for the greater leap of the Republic of Korea."

Furthermore, he said, "Our government will actively support you so that your decision to choose the future of your homeland rather than overseas will not be a wrong one," and ordered, "Each ministry should work in close cooperation with local governments to provide preemptive and full-scale support so that there is not the slightest difficulty in the investment activities of the companies that have made these major decisions."

He also requested the political sphere, saying, "Please join forces with the companies that have staked their lives on this challenge for the future of the Republic of Korea, as well as the government's efforts. I ask for your grand cooperation."

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, who attended the Cabinet meeting, said, "If June 29, 40 years ago, was the day we achieved democracy through the power of the people, yesterday, June 29, was the day we made a historic declaration to establish the Republic of Korea as a super-gap powerhouse."

Minister Chung added, "What was impressive was the President's 90-degree deep bow. It was a deep bow to the corporate representatives and a deep bow to the citizens who have worked hard."

To this, President Lee responded with a smile, "I also hear that as a suggestion to pay more attention to the Jeonbuk region. Those regions that feel left out of yesterday's policy announcement may feel disappointed, but we plan to supplement this through additional measures."

(Photo: Blue House Press Corps, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.