Debate Erupts Over Potential Semiconductor Complex in Honam: "State-Led Economy" vs. "Stoking Regional Conflict"

[Anchor]

As reports emerge that the government will soon announce plans to build additional semiconductor complexes in regions including Honam, political circles have become embroiled in a heated debate. The People Power Party criticized the move as a revival of a state-led economy driven by political motives, while the Democratic Party of Korea fired back, accusing the ruling party of stoking regional conflict.

Reporter Go Jeong-hyeon has the story.

[Reporter]

During the People Power Party leadership meeting on June 25, members criticized the government's consideration of a semiconductor complex in the Honam region, labeling it not as a pure business decision by companies, but as a revival of a state-led economy that twists the arms of businesses.

Concerns were also raised that the region may have been pre-selected due to political considerations ahead of the Democratic Party's national convention in August.

[Kim Jae-won / Supreme Council Member, People Power Party: There is even talk that this is a secret card to win over the hearts of the Honam public during the Democratic Party's national convention process...]

Lawmakers from the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions belonging to the People Power Party held a press conference, arguing that semiconductor complexes, which are expected to have massive power demands, should be built in the Yeongnam region where stable power supply is available from nuclear power plants on the east coast.

[Lee Man-hee / People Power Party Lawmaker (Yeongcheon-Cheongdo, Gyeongbuk): Daegu and Gyeongbuk are already key hubs for the semiconductor materials, parts, and equipment industry, and...]

In response, the Democratic Party argued that the People Power Party is stoking regional conflict.

They maintained that the consideration of the Jeonnam-Gwangju region as a new investment candidate is the result of economic judgment, and that even a company's future investment strategy should not be used as a subject for political strife.

[Ahn Do-geul / Democratic Party Lawmaker (Dong-Nam, Gwangju): An investment plan worth hundreds of trillions of won is a matter decided based on a company's thorough business feasibility analysis and future profitability review.]

However, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Eui-kyeom, whose constituency is in Jeonbuk, suggested that while he is not jealous of the development, the investment should be distributed, with one company in Jeonnam-Gwangju and another in Jeonbuk.

Another lawmaker stated, "While the Hyundai Motor Group is investing 9 trillion won in Saemangeum, there is a sense of relative deprivation regarding the 200-trillion-won-scale semiconductor investment in Jeonnam-Gwangju," adding that "lawmakers representing Jeonbuk are discussing a response."

Reported by Go Jeong-hyeon | Video by Oh Young-chun and Lee Seung-hwan | Video Editing by Lee Seung-jin | Graphics by Lee Jong-jung
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.