Former Conservative Leader Urges Party to Support Honam Investment

Lee Jung-hyun, former leader of the conservative Saenuri Party, has publicly appealed to his party to embrace and champion corporate investment and job creation in the Honam region. Lee, who ran as a special mayoral candidate for the People Power Party in the Jeonnam-Gwangju unified special city for the June local elections, stated on Facebook that conservatives should proactively welcome investment and support job growth in Honam. He emphasized that after 60 years of industrialization and 40 years of democratization, large-scale private investment has concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area, Chungcheong, and Yeongnam regions, leaving Honam to wait. Lee asserted that it is now time for opportunity, not further waiting. He highlighted numerous projects in Honam, including Saemangeum, relocation of the military airport, Gwangju Airport relocation, public medical schools, AI national pilot cities, data centers, the Bitgreen Industrial Complex, GGM, and Southwest Sea offshore wind power, noting that while residents held hopes, they have not felt the expected results. Lee acknowledged that figures like Na Kyung-won, Lee Jun-seok, Jang Dong-hyuk, and Han Dong-hoon have expressed concerns and cautious opinions regarding the potential for advanced industry investments from companies like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, citing feasibility, procedural steps, official company stances, and regional equity. While agreeing that verification is necessary, Lee stressed that such scrutiny should not stifle the initiation of investments. He expressed hope that verification would lead to the realization of investments rather than closing the door on them. Lee contended that the crucial question for South Korean politics today is not 'Why Honam?' but 'How can we make it successful?' He believes this approach will unify the nation and help conservatives be re-evaluated as a national party. Lee, who hails from Gokseong, Jeonnam, was first elected to the National Assembly through proportional representation in the 18th general election and later became the first conservative party member to be re-elected in a Honam constituency (Suncheon). He served as senior presidential secretary for political affairs and public relations, and later as leader of the Saenuri Party under the Park Geun-hye administration.

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The conservatives should first welcome investment in Honam and cheer for jobs for young people in Honam, and let's create industrialization in Honam together.