President Lee Demands 'Blitzkrieg' Pace for Honam Semiconductor Cluster, Rivaling Japan's Speed

President Lee Jae-myung is pushing for an unprecedented pace in developing the Honam semiconductor cluster, urging a "blitzkrieg" approach to ensure its rapid establishment. Speaking at the second joint public-private review meeting for mega-projects, the president emphasized the urgency, stating, "We are in a situation where we must wage a blitzkrieg, not just a speed war."

“

We are in a situation where we must wage a blitzkrieg, not just a speed war.

The core of the plan involves the early utilization of the Gwangju Air Base site for a semiconductor industrial complex. Lee instructed officials to take measures to temporarily relocate the base's functions to other military airports by mid-2028, allowing for the early commencement of construction. He further encouraged the possibility of starting construction on adjacent land even before the main base relocation is complete.

Lee specifically benchmarked the development speed against Japan's Kumamoto, where the TSMC facility was built in under two years from groundbreaking to completion. "I hope the Honam semiconductor cluster will be executed with a speed comparable to Japan's Kumamoto," he stated, highlighting the need for swift progress.

“

I hope the Honam semiconductor cluster will be executed with a speed comparable to Japan's Kumamoto.

The president also underscored the importance of essential infrastructure, including reliable power and water supply, and close communication with the National Assembly to expedite the enactment and revision of relevant laws. He stressed that the next year is a "golden time" and called for all-out efforts to overcome potential obstacles such as departmental silos, regulations, and infrastructure deficiencies. Lee declared, "This is the very beginning of South Korea's golden age."

“

This is the very beginning of South Korea's golden age.