President Lee pushes for speed in semiconductor complex development amid environmental concerns

President Lee Jae-myung has underscored the critical importance of speed and comprehensive government support in the development of major projects, particularly the new semiconductor industrial complex slated for the Gwangju military airport site in the Honam region. During a joint government-private review meeting on mega-projects, the president framed the national endeavor as a "total war for national destiny" where speed and early advantage are paramount.

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In a situation where a total war for national destiny is unfolding, it seems to be decided by who secures the advantage first, who is faster.

"In a situation where a total war for national destiny is unfolding, it seems to be decided by who secures the advantage first, who is faster," President Lee stated. He reiterated that delays in administrative procedures must not impede investment execution. The administration has set a goal to complete the Honam semiconductor complex within President Lee's term, pushing for accelerated timelines.

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Administrative procedure delays must never cause investment execution to lag.

To achieve this, the president called for streamlining environmental impact assessments, suggesting that existing assessments could be utilized or new ones significantly shortened. He also proposed parallelizing land acquisition processes, moving from voluntary acquisition to compulsory purchase more concurrently to save time. "I hope all procedures can be pursued simultaneously, as long as they are not illegal," he urged.

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I hope all procedures can be pursued simultaneously, as long as they are not illegal.

However, the president's emphasis on speed and simplified regulations has drawn criticism from environmental groups. Organizations like the Green Korea United argue that environmental impact assessments are essential safeguards against flawed development, not mere obstacles. They are calling on the government to prioritize public interest in land use, cumulative environmental impacts, and national land use principles for the climate crisis era before rushing into corporate investment support. The Korean Federation for Environmental Movement also criticized the president for appearing to undermine the purpose and role of environmental impact assessment systems.

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Environmental impact assessments are not obstacles that slow down project speed, but the minimum safety device that can stop flawed development.