[Anchor]

The government has decided to establish the Honam region semiconductor cluster on the site of the Gwangju Military Airport. This marks the first site selection just one week after the announcement of the three major mega-projects, and President Lee Jae-myung has once again called for a "speedy approach" during a public-private joint meeting.

Reporter Kang Min-u has the story.

[Reporter]

The Presidential Office announced yesterday (July 6) that the Honam region semiconductor hub will be built on the site of the Gwangju Military Airport.

[Kang Hoon-sik / Chief of Staff to the President: The site offers the advantage of securing approximately 8.26 million square meters of land, and because the land has already been leveled due to its nature as an airport, the construction period can be minimized.]

The reasons for the selection include its proximity to the Gwangju city center and the KTX station, which is favorable for securing human resources and establishing residential conditions, as well as the fact that it is state-owned land, making land acquisition easier.

This is the first site to be decided just one week after the three major mega-projects were announced last week.

At the public-private joint inspection meeting held before the site announcement, President Lee Jae-myung ordered a "speedy approach," stating:

[President Lee Jae-myung: A total war is underway that will determine the nation's fate, and it seems the outcome will be decided by who can secure the lead faster and who is quicker. Truly, speed is everything.]

The plan is to hold public-private joint meetings every month to personally oversee the progress.

President Lee emphasized the preemptive securing of electricity and water supplies and urged for swift administration. Addressing criticism from the conservative opposition regarding the feasibility of the project, he remarked, "If you cannot cooperate, at least do not hinder us."

[President Lee Jae-myung: They argue for a balance (in investment scale), and then claim it is a deception or an event based on the premise that it is impossible. Is it appropriate for public officials in charge of the nation's affairs to take such an attitude? Please, do one or the other.]

In response, Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the People Power Party, retorted by asking if the President is now saying that no criticism of the "mega-projects" is allowed, noting that when President Lee was the leader of the Democratic Party, he had called the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's "King Crab" project a "matter that will fail nine times out of ten."

(Reported by Jung Sang-bo and Ha Ryung | Video by Lee Seung-hee | Graphics by Jang Chae-woo)