Cheong Wa Dae on the 8th addressed the ruling bloc's call to transfer the "Yongin semiconductor cluster to Honam," saying it is "not in a situation where we are considering the transfer of the cluster's corporations." It also said in particular that "whether to transfer corporations is ultimately for corporations to decide in a timely manner." With six months to go before local elections and semiconductor industrial complexes emerging as a cross-regional competition issue, the remark came as the political and industrial circles watched Cheong Wa Dae's stance.
Kim Nam-joon, Cheong Wa Dae Spokesperson, was asked at an afternoon briefing on the results of the senior secretaries' meeting whether there were any presidential instructions related to the semiconductor cluster, and said, "I don't think there is anything in particular to say here today," while adding that nothing had been reviewed at the Cheong Wa Dae level.
The period when Yongin was finalized as a semiconductor industrial complex district was 2019 under the Moon Jae-in administration. As SK hynix, Gumi, Cheongju and Yongin competed to host the site for a new semiconductor plant, the government effectively eased the "greater Seoul area factory cap" to enable construction of a large-scale plant in Yongin. President Lee Jae-myung was the Gyeonggi governor at the time. In 2023, former President Yoon Suk-yeol selected Yongin as a "candidate site for a national semiconductor industrial complex," and Samsung Electronics soon announced a large-scale investment plan.
In connection with this, President Lee said at the "strategy briefing on fostering the semiconductor industry in the AI era" in Dec. last year, "Because it was a matter related to Gyeonggi Province at the time, I worked very hard, but after becoming president, I came to think, 'Why did I do that?'" Lee also said, "It would be appreciated if corporations contribute to balanced regional development," and added, "Please turn your attention to the south, where renewable energy is abundant, and take an interest in building a new industrial ecosystem in those regions."
Kim Sung-hwan, Minister of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, said in a radio interview on the 26th of the same month, "We are considering whether it might be better even now to move to the regions, to where electricity is plentiful." In particular, in his New Year's address, President Lee also emphasized "balanced regional development," saying, "From the semiconductor belt in the energy-rich south to AI testbed cities and renewable energy clusters, we will design a structure in which advanced industry development connects to regional development." In political circles in Honam, some interpreted this as meaning "support for the transfer of the semiconductor cluster."
Lawmakers from North Jeolla Province with the ruling Democratic Party of Korea formed a steering committee to push for a "Saemangeum transfer" and are waging a public campaign. Opposition is also strong. Following Democratic Party lawmakers from the Yongin area, Gyeonggi Gov. Kim Dong-yeon also issued a statement opposing the move. Kim said, "The Yongin semiconductor cluster is a tour de force that President Lee, during his tenure as Gyeonggi governor, secured by breaking through greater Seoul regulations for the people's future livelihoods," adding, "Gyeonggi Province is building on that achievement and carefully taking care of industrial infrastructure such as power, water and transportation."