Lee Jae-myung said on the 2nd that, as part of the government's "Korea's three mega projects," large corporations decided to make major investments outside the capital region, noting, "Some people seem to have this old-fashioned idea that I pressured Chairman Lee Jae-yong so Samsung Electronics made that decision. If we did that, would corporations be able to manage their businesses and attract global investment?"
As major corporations such as Samsung Electronics and SK Group released plans to invest a total of 4,700 trillion won in advanced industries at a people's briefing hosted by the Blue House, the president directly rebutted criticism that the government is pressuring corporations as a "bid for regional votes."
That morning at the "Chungcheong region advanced industry development vision people's briefing" in Asan, South Chungcheong, the president listened to a welcome address by Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and to Chungcheong region investment plans by Samsung Display, SK hynix and Celltrion, then said, "There are a few misunderstandings, so let me say a word," before making these remarks.
He continued, "If we do that, can we manage corporations or attract global investment? It's impossible," adding, "To run at the very front into a completely new world, we must think in advanced ways others don't. The very idea that one can pressure corporations with the thinking of the old days of government control and force things through is outdated. We will not survive."
He went on, "We have to create conditions that allow corporations to come. In today's world, where is there a place that corporations will move to just because you put pressure on them and tell them to come unconditionally?" adding, "I've noticed there are people who think that way from time to time these days."
◇In response to claims of a "Honam bias," "politicians are just jumping on the bandwagon"
The scale of non-capital region investments by major corporations, as stated by the Blue House, is ▲ 896 trillion won in the southwest region ▲ 392 trillion won in the Chungcheong region ▲ 270 trillion won in the Yeongnam region (tentative). In particular, the southwest will receive a total of 896 trillion won, including 800 trillion won for building four new semiconductor production facilities (fabs), 87 trillion won for AI data centers, and 8 trillion won for other smart appliances and energy. That is more than this year's government budget (729 trillion won). The conservative camp is also raising claims of "Honam bias" and "discrimination against Yeongnam."
On this, the president said, "We should support corporations so they can locate in the best possible places. They should be concentrated efficiently in the regions with the highest efficiency," adding, "This is not handing out gifts. Saying, 'Why aren't we getting a share? Since we're left out, give one to another place too'—approaching it that way makes it impossible to run corporations."
The president said, "Politics is about building the infrastructure and persuading so that corporations, when their interests align, think it's better to invest here," adding, "We should not approach it like, 'Why isn't our neighborhood getting a share,' without making particular efforts of that kind." He also said, "Residents may feel disappointed, but if politicians jump on the bandwagon and get angry together like that, will the neighborhood develop?"