Reactions from netizens have surfaced following Prime Minister Kim Min-seok's criticism of comments made by SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won regarding the construction of a new semiconductor factory.
On June 9, during the Nikkei Forum's special session in Tokyo, Chey stated, "If it cannot be done in our country, we may have to go overseas."
He emphasized that the demand for semiconductors continues to grow, making the construction of additional factories an unavoidable task. Chey added, "We will comprehensively consider where and how to build, and it is not necessarily the case that we will only build in Korea," indicating that market conditions and investment environments will influence their decisions.
In response, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok shared an article related to Chey's comments on his X (formerly Twitter) account on June 10, publicly challenging the chairman's stance.
Kim stated, "Instead of 'if it cannot be done in Korea,' we should be asking 'how can we make it work in Korea?'" He stressed the need for the government and businesses to engage in sincere dialogue and work together to find solutions.
As both sides' statements became known, critical reactions flooded online communities.
Many netizens pointed to recent labor-related policies and the regulatory environment for businesses, arguing that "it is no wonder companies are hesitant to invest domestically" and that "the government should focus more on improving the investment climate."
One user remarked, "With demands for 'AI excess profit distribution,' 'build factories in Honam,' and threats of a nationwide strike by the KCTU if 85% of profits are not shared, how can we expect companies to invest in Korea?"
Another user questioned, "After asking for diplomatic favors during the Trump administration and then passing the yellow envelope law, how can the government suddenly demand factories be built in Honam?"
A different commenter added, "In a region that shows blind support of 80-90% for a party intent on harming large corporations, what justification is there for pushing factory development?"
This debate over the establishment of a semiconductor factory has been viewed as a direct clash between government industrial policy and corporate investment decisions. The upcoming meeting between President Lee Jae-myung and business leaders at the end of this month is expected to highlight semiconductor investment, corporate regulation, and labor policies as key topics.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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