Lee orders a rapid push for Honam semiconductor project, says Gwangju military airport functions will be temporarily relocated by 2028

[Financial News] President Lee Jae Myung said on the 10th that the plan to build a semiconductor cluster in Honam must move beyond a speed race and become a full-scale blitz. He also instructed the Ministry of National Defense to temporarily relocate the functions of the Gwangju base to another military airport by mid-2028 so that the Gwangju Military Airport site can be used early for a semiconductor industrial complex.
Presiding over the second public-private joint review meeting on mega projects at Cheong Wa Dae, Lee said, "At this stage, the land and infrastructure are the most important things."
Lee said, "The three key regions are Honam, Yeongnam and Chungcheong, and among them, I hope the Honam semiconductor cluster will be implemented as quickly as Japan's Kumamoto."
He added, "At the last meeting, we decided to designate the Gwangju Military Airport site as a semiconductor cluster. I hope the Ministry of National Defense will take steps so that the functions of the Gwangju base can be temporarily relocated to another military airport by mid-2028, allowing the Gwangju Military Airport site to be used early as a semiconductor industrial complex."
He also urged the government to begin developing the industrial complex on nearby land even before the temporary relocation of the military airport functions is completed. Lee said, "Even before the temporary relocation, I ask you to do your best so that construction of the industrial complex can begin early on land near the military airport." He added, "Of course, plans for power and water supply must also be prepared without disruption."
He also called for faster legislation. Lee said, "We need to communicate closely with the National Assembly and speed up the enactment and revision of related laws." He added, "Please treat the next year as a golden time and devote all efforts to this."
He repeatedly stressed the need for swift administrative support from the government. Lee said, "We need an overall review so that companies' willingness to invest is not weakened and procedures are not delayed because of ministry silos, regulations or a lack of infrastructure." He added, "We must push related procedures simultaneously, significantly reduce the time required, and continue improving regulations so that implementation can proceed as quickly as possible."
He then said, "This is a situation where we must go beyond a speed race and wage a blitz."
Lee also stressed that the results of the mega projects should not be concentrated in a few companies or regions. He said, "The ultimate goal of the mega projects is to expand the axis of growth across the entire country and reorganize the map of advanced industries around the regions." He added, "During the process, we also need to prepare in advance measures to prevent K-shaped growth, or the polarization of growth."
He also said, "I hope each ministry will make sure in advance that the achievements created by the capabilities of the entire community are not concentrated only in specific companies or regions." He added, "National investment and support should not be limited to the companies or industries involved in the three major mega projects."
Lee said, "We absolutely need a strategy for a major industrial leap that supports the entire ecosystem, including materials, parts and equipment, and that also links the development of Physical AI to stronger capabilities in manufacturing AI transformation." He added, "Once the investment is made and the factory is built, it is already too late. We need to think from the very beginning of the project about ways to create growth for everyone."
Meanwhile, the meeting was attended at Cheong Wa Dae by Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, Policy Chief Kim Yong-beom and National Security Chief Wi Sung-lac. Also present were Prime Minister Han Seong-sook, Deputy Prime Minister for Economy and Minister of Finance and Economy Koo Yun-cheol, Deputy Prime Minister for Science and Technology and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon, as well as ministers from the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, and the Ministry of Planning and Budget. The head of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Air Force and the Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Mayor also attended. From the business community, Samsung Electronics President Kim Yong-kwan and SK Future Growth Chief Jeong Seung-il were present.
[email protected] Choi Jong-geun Reporter