[Anchor]

President Lee Jae-myung and the Blue House have directly refuted claims from the conservative opposition regarding "preferential treatment for the Honam region" and "arm-twisting corporations." President Lee emphasized that the fact that Honam has been alienated from development for a long time has, in some respects, become a factor of opportunity, and that the government is not forcing losses or risks upon companies.

Reporter Kang Cheong-wan has the story.

[Reporter]

President Lee Jae-myung emphasized the necessity of regional development, stating that while the success of the global artificial intelligence competition depends solely on a race for speed, the capacity of the Seoul metropolitan area, where semiconductor complexes are currently being built, has reached its limit.

[President Lee Jae-myung: As inefficiencies due to concentration intensify, the metropolitan area is on the verge of exploding, while the provinces are facing a crisis of extinction.]

In particular, he noted that the long-term exclusion of Honam from development has, in some aspects, become a factor of opportunity.

[President Lee Jae-myung: The southwestern coastal area is rich in water resources and, in particular, abundant in renewable energy.]

President Lee refuted the conservative opposition's claim of "arm-twisting corporations," stating that this is the reason why companies have chosen Honam.

[President Lee Jae-myung: It is not about forcing losses and risks on companies to achieve national needs as some fear, but rather enabling them to invest with a better outlook.]

Blue House Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik explained that the conservative opposition's claim that the government is twisting the arms of corporations shows a complete lack of understanding of corporate circumstances. He added that South Korea is in a situation where it must act with a sense of desperation, as future growth engines could diminish if investments are not made now.

He further remarked, "Honam has the cheapest land prices," adding, "If it were possible to simply tell companies to invest, one might wonder why the Yoon Suk-yeol administration did not work harder to do so."

(Video coverage: Jung Sang-bo, Yoon Hyung | Video editing: Jeon Min-gyu | Design: Kang Yoon-jung)