Hong Joon-pyo: Semiconductor complex in Honam needed for national development

Former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo has voiced his support for the establishment of a semiconductor industrial complex in the Honam region, emphasizing its necessity for balanced national development rather than mere political maneuvering. His stance contrasts with recent objections from some members of the People Power Party.

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It is necessary for balanced national development, not a strategic measure.

Hong recalled how former President Park Chung-hee's era saw the establishment of heavy industries in Yeongnam, centered around Changwon, and automotive and petrochemical industries in Ulsan, with Busan developing as a logistics hub. He pointed out that by the 1980s, semiconductor and electronics industries took root in Gyeonggi and Chungcheong provinces. However, he observed that the Honam region has remained largely agricultural, lacking significant industrial development.

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If the location conditions are met in Honam, I do not oppose a semiconductor complex going there.

"If the location conditions are met in Honam, I do not oppose a semiconductor complex going there," Hong stated on Facebook. He specifically highlighted the Saemangeum area in North Jeolla Province as a vast and optimal location for national resurgence, expressing regret over its decades-long stagnation. He criticized the trend of using nationwide industrial redistribution as a tool for political conflict, deeming it undesirable.

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The last remaining prime location, Saemangeum (in North Jeolla Province), is a vast and optimal location for our country to leap forward again, yet it remains as it is after decades, which is truly regrettable.

The government's plan to establish a second national semiconductor cluster in the Gwangju-Jeonnam region has faced opposition from some People Power Party figures, including Representative Jang Dong-hyuk and lawmakers from the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region, who questioned the rationale for choosing Honam. In response, President Lee Jae-myung has extensively defended the project on social media, asserting that Honam has sufficient water resources, comparable to Yeongnam and the Seoul metropolitan area, countering claims of water scarcity. President Lee is scheduled to host a national report session on three mega-projects, where semiconductor investment plans are expected to be announced.

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It is not desirable for nationwide industrial redistribution to become a tool for political conflict.