South Korean President Lee Jae-myung held private meetings with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won to discuss a proposed 400 trillion won (approximately $290 billion USD) semiconductor investment in the Honam region, located in the southwestern part of the country. These discussions precede a significant government announcement on a 'balanced national land development' strategy, expected on June 29.
According to the Blue House (Cheong Wa Dae), President Lee met with Samsung's Lee Jae-yong on June 25. This followed a separate meeting with SK's Chey Tae-won on June 19. These high-level discussions suggest that the details of the large-scale semiconductor cluster are in their final stages of coordination.
Kim Yong-beom, the presidential policy chief, indicated at a Kwanhun Club debate that discussions for a 'second provincial semiconductor cluster' were nearing completion. He stated that once finalized, companies and government ministries would jointly explain the plans to the public.
The potential investment has sparked debate among political figures and experts regarding its optimal distribution within the Honam region. Representative Kim Eui-gyeom of the Democratic Party (Gunsan, Gimje, Buan-gap) advocated for a dispersed allocation, citing concerns about 'Yongin-centric' development issues and suggesting that concentrating all facilities in one area, such as Gwangju, could lead to similar problems. He referenced an article by OhmyNews reporter Lee Bong-ryeol, who argued that decentralization is crucial for mitigating geopolitical infrastructure risks and preventing the entire national semiconductor industry from being paralyzed by natural disasters or accidents.
Lee Bong-ryeol proposed a scenario where one company establishes facilities in Jeollabuk-do (North Jeolla Province), particularly in Saemangeum, which offers extensive land and renewable energy infrastructure, while another locates in the Gwangju-Jeollanam-do (South Jeolla Province) area. This approach, he suggested, would prevent infrastructure overload and foster balanced development across the entire Honam region.
Conversely, Representative Park Jie-won of the Democratic Party, whose constituency includes Haenam, Wando, and Jindo in Jeollanam-do, has proactively championed Haenam Solaseado as the optimal site for both Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. He noted that Saemangeum and Haenam Solaseado are the only sites in Honam with pre-developed land, though he acknowledged accessibility concerns for Haenam Solaseado. Park's stance suggests a preference for attracting both companies to Jeollanam-do.
Experts, however, continue to emphasize that a dispersed allocation between Jeollabuk-do and Jeollanam-do would be the most efficient strategy to prevent infrastructure strain and ensure equitable development throughout Honam. As the June 29 announcement approaches, political figures in Jeollabuk-do, including Governor-elect Lee Won-taek, are urged to unite and advocate for the distribution of semiconductor clusters to sites like Saemangeum, which they claim already possess the necessary conditions for such investment.