People Power Party Chungcheong Lawmakers: "Honam Semiconductor Investment Infringes on Corporate Decision-Making Authority by Government"

"Honam Lacks Sufficient Power, Water, and Workforce"

"Disclose the Investment Decision Process"

"Diverting Chungcheong's Water Will Fuel Regional Conflict"

On June 29, representatives and metropolitan mayors from the People Power Party in the Chungcheong region criticized the government regarding the semiconductor investment in Honam announced at the Blue House by Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, stating, "A government with a limited term is arbitrarily infringing upon corporate decision-making rights."

At a press conference held at the National Assembly Communication Office that day, People Power Party figures from Chungcheong declared, "Why is state power interfering in the fate of companies and ruining the future of both companies and the country?" They condemned, "Government intervention in corporate management destroys the free market economy."

(From left in the photo) Representative Park Deok-hum, Governor Kim Tae-hum of Chungnam, Representative Sung Il-jong, Governor Kim Young-hwan of Chungbuk, and other People Power Party figures from the Chungcheong region are expressing their stance on the large-scale semiconductor cluster development in Honam at the National Assembly Communication Office on the 29th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

They emphasized that the government’s top priority should be "the early completion of the Yongin Semiconductor National Industrial Complex," adding, "The government’s role is to support infrastructure for the Yongin complex and promptly address civil complaints."

They raised doubts about the likelihood of success for the Honam investment, citing three key elements of the semiconductor industry: electricity supply, water supply, and workforce.

Kim Young-hwan, Governor of North Chungcheong Province, stated, "The semiconductor industry depends on its ecosystem and talent pipeline. Pursuing such a project in a region with no foundation, based on political considerations, is unlikely to succeed. Forcing a decision that should be made by companies is an infringement on corporate autonomy."

Kim Tae-hum, Governor of South Chungcheong Province, also remarked, "The semiconductor industry requires all three elements—power, water, and workforce—to be in place. While balanced national development is important, locating an industry in an unsuitable area is not appropriate."

In particular, they pointed to water supply conditions in Honam as an issue. Representative Kang Seung-kyu argued, "The Yeongsan River and Seomjin River alone cannot provide enough water for semiconductor plants, so inevitably there will be discussions about drawing on Chungcheong region’s water resources. If this happens, it will place a significant burden on Chungcheong as well."

Governor Kim Young-hwan also asserted, "Currently, 70% of the water needed for the Icheon and Pyeongtaek semiconductor plants is supplied by Chungju Lake. Ultimately, drawing on Chungcheong’s water resources will inevitably be considered, which will only lead to regional conflict."

Kim Tae-hum further criticized the government for highlighting Honam’s renewable energy base as an advantage for semiconductor investment, stating, "Solar and wind power are highly dependent on weather conditions, making stable 24-hour power supply difficult." Representative Kang also criticized, "The government is cobbling together arguments to justify investment in Honam without considering core infrastructure like power and water supply."

Finally, they urged the government to make public the entire decision-making process for the Honam semiconductor investment, including criteria for evaluating the site—such as electricity, water, and workforce—as well as relevant expert reviews.

The statement was joined by People Power Party lawmakers with constituencies in the Chungcheong region: Park Deok-hum, Lee Jong-bae, Sung Il-jong, Um Tae-young, Kang Seung-kyu, Jang Dong-hyuk, and Yoon Yong-geun. Metropolitan mayors and governors who participated included Kim Young-hwan (Governor of North Chungcheong Province), Choi Min-ho (Mayor of Sejong), Kim Tae-hum (Governor of South Chungcheong Province), and Lee Jang-woo (Mayor of Daejeon).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.