SEOUL, July 04 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Saturday rejected opposition claims that his administration's three large-scale regional development initiatives were politically motivated, saying the projects had long been part of his vision and were intended to improve people's lives rather than boost his approval ratings.
In a post on X, Lee said the plan for what his administration has described as three "mega projects" to reshape the country's regional economy had been conceived long before he took office.
"We had been preparing at the national level immediately after taking office to promote large-scale regional investment and development for balanced growth, but progress was slower than expected," Lee wrote.
He said recent government policies to promote artificial intelligence and other advanced industries, together with structural changes in the AI semiconductor sector, had created conditions for large-scale regional investment.
Lee's remarks came after the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) argued that the projects were driven by political considerations ahead of next year's local elections.
"If the three mega projects had been a political tool to manage approval ratings, we would have launched them before the local elections," Lee said.
He added that while public approval ratings were important, "what matters more is delivering tangible results that improve people's lives."
"Approval ratings rise and fall like the wind, but achievements and performance endure," Lee said, adding that public support would naturally follow concrete results.
Lee said the projects were aimed at promoting balanced regional development, inclusive and sustainable growth, and creating new opportunities, particularly for younger generations.
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