[Anchor]

The People Power Party is strongly opposing the semiconductor investment in the Honam region. Claiming that the government has stripped companies of their autonomous decision-making power through state-controlled intervention, some are even calling for a parliamentary investigation.

Reporter Kim Bo-mi has the story.

[Reporter]

At the People Power Party Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly this morning (June 29).

Sharp criticism was poured out ahead of the semiconductor investment plan for the Honam region, which was announced by the Blue House.

Floor Leader Jung Jeung-sik criticized President Lee Jae-myung for stating on social media two days ago that this Honam semiconductor investment should be called administrative guidance or promotional administration, calling it a confession of state-controlled intervention that admits the location was decided by government involvement.

[Jung Jeung-sik/Floor Leader of the People Power Party: The fact that two competing major companies are simultaneously announcing large-scale investment plans in the same location itself suggests that this project is based on government-controlled intervention rather than the companies' autonomous judgment....]

Floor Leader Jung added that he is not against semiconductor plants going to Gwangju or South Jeolla Province, but that in a situation where all regions across the country are competing to attract them, it must be questioned whether the location was decided through transparent and objective procedures.

People Power Party Supreme Council members strongly criticized the move, questioning whether it was an announcement aimed at winning over Honam voters ahead of the Democratic Party's next party leadership election, and argued that a parliamentary investigation is necessary.

[Shin Dong-wook/Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party: On what grounds is President Lee Jae-myung saying there is enough water in Gwangju and South Jeolla Province? There is no basis. I believe this is something that will lead to everyone going to prison later.]

National Assembly members and provincial governors from the Chungcheong region of the People Power Party held a press conference this morning, criticizing the investment decision as the administration strangling companies and demanding an explanation as to why the Chungcheong region could not be an alternative.

[Kim Tae-heum/Governor of South Chungcheong Province: In terms of power, water, and human resources, this is going to a region that does not satisfy those three elements.]

Daegu Mayor-elect Hong Joon-pyo, North Gyeongsang Province Governor Lee Cheol-woo, and People Power Party lawmakers from Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province also held a press conference this afternoon, urging the government to transparently explain the investment decision process to avoid criticism that it is a political decision that once again divides the Yeongnam and Honam regions.

Reported by Lee Seung-hwan and Shin Dong-hwan | Video by Oh Young-taek