[Anchor]

With the announcement of plans for a large-scale semiconductor complex in the Honam region scheduled for next week, political debate has extended to the issue of water shortages. As the opposition party raised concerns that "Honam lacks sufficient industrial water," President Lee Jae-myung directly stepped in to refute the claim, stating that "Honam also has enough water."

Reporter Kang Min-woo has the story.

[Reporter]

President Lee Jae-myung shared an article on his social media that pointed out the potential difficulty in providing a stable water supply if a large-scale semiconductor cluster is built in Gwangju and South Jeolla Province, and countered by stating that "Honam has as much water as Yeongnam or the capital region."

He emphasized that the issue is not a lack of water resources, but rather that Honam has been managed at the level of an agricultural city for decades due to the political purpose of "divide and rule." He added that reviews have shown it is possible to supply 1 million tons of industrial water per day if the proper systems are in place.

He also retorted that global leaders Samsung and Hynix would not be foolish enough to plan massive factory establishments in water-scarce regions, and that the government would not encourage building factories in areas without water.

Immediately following this, President Lee posted, "To a Buddha, all things look like Buddha; to a pig, all things look like a pig."

While some interpreted this as being aimed at writer Rhyu Si-min, who criticized the President for appearing "overconfident," a Blue House official explained that it was directed at the conservative opposition party for fueling regional conflict between Yeongnam and Honam and claiming the government is "twisting the arms" of corporations.

The People Power Party criticized President Lee for engaging in irresponsible divisiveness and demanded that he reveal concrete measures to address the water shortage. Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seong-min criticized the move, asking, "Nuclear power plants and radioactive waste disposal sites are concentrated in Yeongnam, so why should semiconductors be in Honam? Will Yeongnam be able to accept this?"

In response, President Lee countered, "The southwest coast is precisely where renewable energy is most abundant."

President Lee is scheduled to announce his "three major mega-projects" at a national report meeting to be held at the Blue House the day after tomorrow, June 29.

Reported by Ha Ryung | Video by Lee Seung-hee | Graphics by Kim Ye-ji | Produced by SBS Digital News