"At the news conference, the president said, 'Power, water, these things should be explained well and made understandable, and (corporations) should be able to go somewhere else without any hindrance or loss, and it should be made beneficial—that is the role of the government.' I want to ask the president whether this means the government could subtly pressure semiconductor corporations that invested in Yongin to move elsewhere."
Lee Sang-il, mayor of Yongin Special City, said of President Lee Jae-myung leaving room at the Jan. 21 New Year's news conference for the Yongin semiconductor cluster to be partially subject to transfer to Honam, "It appears the government has no will to carry out the plan it already made. Deeply regrettable," and stated accordingly.
In a call with ChosunBiz that day, the mayor assessed, "The president's remarks at the news conference did not clear up the confusion surrounding the Yongin semiconductor cluster; rather, they allow for self-serving interpretations depending on region or people, enabling each to make claims to their own liking."
At the New Year's news conference held at the Blue House State Guest House that day, President Lee mentioned the issues of power and water supply for the Yongin semiconductor cluster and said, "I cannot overturn what was decided as government policy, but if the public rallies for balanced regional development and development for all, a major change in direction will be possible."
This is interpreted as suggesting that part of the Yongin semiconductor cluster plan could be carved out and moved to a region with abundant power and water. In fact, Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers Ahn Ho-young and Lee Won-taek, who raised the idea of transferring the semiconductor cluster to North Jeolla, issued statements welcoming the president's remarks that day.
Regarding this, Mayor Lee Sang-il said, "Representative Ahn Ho-young's welcoming commentary includes the point that 'the president clearly showed that taking the Yongin semiconductor industrial complex is not impossible,'" adding, "It seems attempts to shake the Yongin semiconductor project will continue. The more that happens, the more Korea's semiconductor industry and the national economy will be bruised."
The mayor said, "The Yongin national semiconductor industrial complex (Samsung Electronics) and the general industrial complex (SK hynix) were designated by the government in Jul. 2023 as specialized complexes for national advanced strategic industries," adding, "The government has a responsibility to support not only power and water supply but also infrastructure such as expanding road networks."
He continued, "It is the ethical responsibility of the president and the government to faithfully implement concrete, established plans," pointing out, "They should not speak as if it were someone else's business." He added, "If there are regional conflicts over transmission lines, the government should step up to coordinate and resolve them for the development of the semiconductor industry and the country's future. If it takes the attitude that it is difficult because there is opposition, the president is denying the government's very reason for existence."