Opposition Calls Mega Projects a Political Stunt; Ruling Party Sees National Strategy
The ruling and opposition parties in South Korea are engaged in a heated debate over the government's three mega projects. The People Power Party criticized the initiatives as politically motivated, aimed at managing approval ratings and the upcoming Democratic Party convention. In contrast, the Democratic Party defended the projects as a national strategy for balanced regional development.On July 4, People Power Party spokesperson Park Seong-hoon stated that President Lee Jae-myung's claim that the projects were not politically motivated was "a shameless excuse and an attempt to cover the sky with one hand." He argued that if the announcement had been made before local elections, it would have faced severe backlash due to fairness concerns across regions. Instead, he suggested the timing was deliberate, coming right after the elections.
The Democratic Party, however, emphasized that the three mega projects would mark a turning point for national balanced development. Spokesperson Lee Joo-hee stated in a written briefing that the blueprint for the projects, centered on semiconductors, physical artificial intelligence (AI), and AI data centers, has been completed, indicating a shift from a capital-centric system to one led by local industries.
President Lee Defends Mega Projects Against Criticism
President Lee Jae-myung responded to opposition criticism of the three mega projects, asserting that if they were merely a political tool for managing approval ratings, they would have been initiated before the local elections. On July 4, he posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the ambitious national transformation he envisions has been a long-held dream of his. He noted that preparations for large-scale regional investments and developments began immediately after his inauguration, although progress was slow.He explained that recent government policies focused on investments in future advanced industries, including AI, have made large-scale regional investments feasible. In response to claims of political motives behind the mega projects, he stated, "While approval ratings are important, what matters more are the results that improve the lives of the people. Approval ratings may fluctuate like the wind, but achievements and results are like mountains, stable and enduring. It is a long-held belief that approval ratings naturally follow achievements and results."
Economic Chief Compares Mega Projects to Park Chung-hee Era Industrialization
Han Jun-kyung, the chief economic advisor at the Blue House, described the government's three mega projects as comparable in scale to the industrialization efforts during the Park Chung-hee era, calling them a large-scale national industrial transformation initiative. On July 4, during an appearance on the YouTube program "Jo Jun-hee's Saturday Debate," he stated, "If the industrialization during the Park Chung-hee era is considered the first phase, we are now entering the second phase of industrialization, on a completely different scale."He noted that while past industrialization was marked by imbalances, the current initiative aims for balanced industrialization, positioning South Korea as a leader rather than a follower. He added that regions will have opportunities for growth, and the rapid construction of factories will create numerous jobs and significantly benefit the economy.
Han also shared insights on the reactions of major corporations involved in the projects, noting that their leaders expressed gratitude to the president for prompting them to consider equitable development across the nation, which they had not previously thought about. He mentioned that companies were contemplating moving overseas due to difficulties in finding suitable conditions domestically.
Iran Begins Funeral Procedures for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Iran has initiated funeral procedures for Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the former Supreme Leader who died in an Israeli targeted airstrike. According to CNN on July 4, public mourning for Khamenei began at 6 a.m. local time at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla, a large prayer facility in Tehran.Crowds gathered at the mosalla even before the arrival of Khamenei's funeral procession. Public mourning is expected to continue for 24 hours, with attendees passing by his casket to pay their respects.
The funeral schedule will span six days, concluding on July 9. A funeral service for Khamenei and his family will take place on July 5, followed by continued public mourning.
Argentina Advances to Round of 16 After Extra Time Victory Over Cape Verde
The Argentina national football team secured a spot in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA North Central America World Cup after a hard-fought extra time victory against Cape Verde. On July 4, in a match held at Miami Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, Argentina drew 1-1 with Cape Verde after regulation time but triumphed 3-2 in extra time.This victory keeps Argentina's hopes alive for a second consecutive World Cup title. After defeating Algeria, Austria, and Jordan in the group stage, Argentina faced unexpected challenges in their first knockout match but managed to advance.
Argentina will face Egypt, who defeated Australia in a penalty shootout, in the Round of 16 on July 8 in Atlanta, Georgia. This matchup will also feature a showdown between Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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