Samsung breaks ground on W46tr mega-project as Lee vows to make Chungcheong region HBM packaging hub

The government's "Three Great Mega-Projects for Korea's Great Leap Forward," unveiled last June, broke ground in Asan, South Chungcheong Province on Thursday, marking the start of full-scale implementation.

President Lee Jae Myung said he intends to expand advanced-industry investment hubs from Asan and Sejong to Cheongju, Dangjin and Osong, positioning the Chungcheong region as the central axis of South Korea's future industries.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony held at the Samsung Electronics Onyang Campus construction site in Asan, Lee said, "Three cutting-edge investment projects that will redraw South Korea's industrial map are breaking ground here in Chungcheong. I feel deeply moved and overjoyed."

"I sincerely congratulate the entire nation on the full-scale groundbreaking of the Chungcheong region mega-project investments — the advanced semiconductor packaging fab and advanced display production line in Asan, and the high-performance substrate manufacturing facility for AI servers in Sejong," Lee said. He added that he was deeply grateful to Samsung Group Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Samsung employees for their bold investment decisions and swift execution, as well as to the residents of the Chungcheong cities and provinces for their support in making the groundbreaking possible.

Lee also expressed his determination to extend the advanced-industry ecosystem across the entire Chungcheong region on the back of the investment.

At the Asan Onyang Campus, where construction began Thursday, a 6 trillion won ($4.49 billion) advanced packaging fab will be built, with an additional 40 trillion won in advanced equipment investment to follow in stages. "The Asan Onyang Campus will emerge as a core hub for advanced HBM packaging," Lee said. "This wave of innovation is not stopping at Asan and Sejong — it is spreading rapidly across the entire Chungcheong region."

Lee also noted that groundbreaking preparations are proceeding on schedule for a memory chip and advanced packaging fab in Cheongju, an AI data center in Dangjin, and a biotech pharmaceutical production facility in Osong.

Lee credited proactive local government action for enabling the large-scale investment to move so quickly to groundbreaking. South Chungcheong Province and Asan cut the time required for permits and approvals to one-third of the usual period, he said, providing crucial backing for the companies' investment execution.

"This is a clear model case showing how quickly things can change on the ground when local governments take the initiative," Lee said. He added that the central and local governments would work as one team to ensure all investment plans in the Honam and Yeongnam regions, as well as the Chungcheong region, proceed without a hitch — taking full responsibility for permits, approvals and the construction of key infrastructure including power and water supply.

Lee went on to say that small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners in the region should find new growth opportunities through the project, and that young people who grew up in Chungcheong should be able to work, build homes and plan their futures there — without having to leave for distant cities in search of good jobs.

"The government will focus all its policy capabilities on ensuring the mega-projects are completed as growth for everyone and genuine balanced national development that tangibly improves the lives of local communities and the people," Lee added.

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, who attended the ceremony, responded in kind. "I believe the mega-projects are not simply an industrial strategy but a historic challenge to redraw the future of South Korea," he said. "With an even greater sense of responsibility, we will actively push forward with the mega-projects not only here in Chungcheong but also in the Honam and Yeongnam regions, to write a success story for an irreplaceable South Korea."

Following the groundbreaking, President Lee chaired the fourth public-private joint review meeting on the mega-projects, where participants discussed investment support measures by the central and local governments and ways to expand participation by small and medium-sized enterprises.

The meeting covered the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's comprehensive support plan for the Chungcheong region mega-projects, South Chungcheong Province's record of local government support and future plans, and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' proposals for strengthening the role of small and medium-sized enterprises.