Gwangju City has labeled a series of reports by Chosun Ilbo regarding the Honam Semiconductor Cluster as 'malicious distortions and falsehoods' and has requested corrections.
The city announced that it would pursue legal action, including filing a complaint with the Press Arbitration Commission, if its requests are not met.
On November 9, Gwangju City spokesperson Baek Mi-kyung held an emergency press conference at the Gwangju City Hall, where she systematically refuted Chosun Ilbo's claims about the semiconductor support committee and the alleged water shortages in the Honam region.
Regarding the reported 6 trillion won in semiconductor support, Baek explained that the figure cited by Chosun Ilbo was simply the sum of 1.5 trillion won allocated for the semiconductor support account in 2027, aggregated over four years.
She pointed out that the annual support amounts beyond 2028 have not yet been finalized, contrary to the newspaper's reporting.
Baek clarified that the support committee is not a specialized body assessing the technical feasibility of individual semiconductor projects but rather an administrative and financial review body under the Prime Minister, as stipulated in Article 12 of the Special Act.
She also addressed the claim regarding water shortages in the Honam region.
Baek stated, "We have secured 1.06 million tons of water, which is 1.6 times the 603,000 tons needed daily for semiconductor fabrication plants."
She added that of this amount, 200,000 tons of recycled wastewater will be used under an agreement with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix by the end of the year, while the Dongbok Dam, a source of drinking water for Gwangju, will continue to supply water as usual.
Gwangju City has demanded that Chosun Ilbo immediately cease its distorted reporting, issue a factual correction, and provide an official apology.
If these demands are not met, the city has stated it will halt media services and pursue legal action, including filing a complaint with the Press Arbitration Commission.
Baek emphasized, "Distorting the role of the support committee as a semiconductor project review body and claiming that already secured water is insufficient is not verification but malicious falsehoods. This pattern of reporting, which shifts topics repeatedly, cannot be dismissed as mere mistakes."
She concluded, "The Honam Semiconductor Cluster is not just an opportunity for Gwangju but a vital survival strategy for the entire Republic of Korea. We will ensure that water, power, and talent are prepared without fail and prove our results."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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