President pledges success for Honam semiconductor hub as national compensation

President Lee Jae-myung declared that the large-scale semiconductor investments planned for the southwestern Honam region will be pursued without fail, viewing it as historical and national compensation for the region's enduring sacrifices and contributions to South Korea's democracy. Speaking at the "Southwestern Region Advanced Industry Development Vision National Report" in Gwangju, Lee emphasized that the region will become the hub for advanced memory production facilities, advanced packaging plants, and AI data centers, initiating a "Korean-style AI industrial revolution" that will extend globally.

The presidential office revealed that the "Three Major Mega-Projects National Report" chaired by President Lee includes a total investment of 896 trillion won in the Honam region. This encompasses four semiconductor fabrication plants (800 trillion won), packaging facilities (1 trillion won), AI data centers (87 trillion won), and other smart home appliances and energy projects (8 trillion won).

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I will ensure its success without any delay or compensation, thinking of it as historical and national compensation for Honam, which has endured the pain and sorrow of discrimination without any reward and has made and protected democracy in Korea.

To ensure the project's success, President Lee announced he would personally chair the "Semiconductor Industry Competitiveness Enhancement Special Committee," set to launch in August with the implementation of the "Special Act on Semiconductors." He vowed to make this committee a strong control tower for the southwestern region's investments, establishing a dedicated team in the Blue House to oversee the entire process and ensure its completion. "I will personally take responsibility for supporting the entire process until the end," Lee stated, promising to eliminate any delays, even by a single month.

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I will personally chair the committee and make it a strong control tower for investments in the southwestern region.

President Lee also committed to a comprehensive review of regulations hindering investment and to provide bold financial and tax incentives. Furthermore, he pledged to establish a "talent cultivation system for advanced industries" involving regional universities, investing companies, and research institutions. This initiative aims to create job opportunities and provide comprehensive support for housing, education, and healthcare, enabling young people to pursue their dreams in the region.

Highlighting the region's readiness, Lee described the southwestern area as a "prepared land" for semiconductor cluster formation. He pointed to its abundant renewable energy resources, including the nation's largest solar and offshore wind power facilities, as a key advantage for supplying the electricity required by future advanced industries. He also noted the excellent locational competitiveness, with large-scale industrial sites readily available near major urban centers and swift domestic and international connectivity via KTX high-speed rail and Muan International Airport.

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The southwestern region has the potential to supply a large amount of renewable energy, which future advanced industries need.

Recalling the sentiment of "Without Honam, there would be no country" ('Yakmuho-nam simugukga'), President Lee stated that "discrimination against Honam has created new opportunities." He expressed his determination to "dedicate all efforts to making Korea indispensable to the world and irreplaceable by any nation" by spreading the innovation led by the southwestern region across the entire country.

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Discrimination against Honam has created new opportunities.