During a cabinet meeting and emergency economic review at the Blue House, President Lee remarked, "Honam has faced many difficulties due to exclusion and discrimination, but this has also become an opportunity for transformation."
His comments came in response to criticism from opposition parties regarding the government's announcement the previous day of plans to establish a semiconductor cluster in Honam, which they labeled as favoritism.
He emphasized that the three major mega projects announced yesterday are key to overcoming the imbalances caused by the capital region's dominance and will create opportunities for balanced growth across the country.
President Lee acknowledged that discrimination between the Yeongnam and Honam regions has been a reality but noted that it could not be forcibly corrected. He expressed hope that the new environment would help alleviate some of these imbalances.
He also mentioned that the population of the Yeongnam region is approximately 13 million, while Honam's population is around 5 million, adding that Honam had a larger population after liberation.
Furthermore, he argued that the long-term neglect and lack of development in Honam have resulted in better management of water resources, electricity, and land.
On June 29, President Lee chaired a national briefing on the three mega projects, officially announcing the establishment of a new semiconductor complex in Honam. The government plans to develop a 'second production base' in Honam, with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix committing a total investment of 800 trillion won.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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