Lee posts again on Honam semiconductor plan, urges end to 'political struggle'

By Yang Geun-hyuk, The Herald Business

President Lee Jae Myung said Sunday that building a semiconductor industry ecosystem in the Honam region is "not preferential treatment for a specific area."

In a post on his X account that day, Lee called for "fierce debate" on the Honam semiconductor site but urged those with reasonable grounds to cooperate, and asked others to refrain from exploiting the issue to stoke regional divisions for political ends.

Lee said the southwest coast has paradoxically been left with vast, stable land available for advanced factories such as semiconductor plants, precisely because the region has long been excluded from development. He added that the area's abundant water supply and renewable energy potential make it "the world's most optimal site" for cutting-edge future industries, including semiconductors, AI data centers and other large-scale electricity consumers.

Lee doubled down on the need to press ahead with existing semiconductor cluster plans in the Greater Seoul area, where water and power are nearing their limits, while simultaneously building a second large-scale complex at high speed. He said the long years of neglect and hardship suffered by Honam mean that "the double discrimination of the past has become an unexpected source of great opportunity" for the region, and called it "a golden chance to turn misfortune into fortune and transform the landscape entirely."

Lee wrote that the plan involves establishing an additional semiconductor industry hub through decisions by relevant companies, backed by sweeping government support. He described it as fulfilling "a national cause — achieving balanced national development and easing deep-rooted regional discrimination and the Yeongnam-Honam divide."

He also called on all sides to "stop the wasteful political struggle of stoking regional conflict and regionalism for political purposes," saying it is time for everyone to cooperate and pool their wisdom in pursuit of the national goals of easing resource concentration in the Greater Seoul area and achieving balanced national development.

Lee had posted six messages on X related to semiconductor investment in Honam on Saturday as well.