After Visits to Southwest and Chungcheong, President Lee Heads to Yeongnam... 270 Trillion Won Investment in AI and Aerospace

The Third Regional National Briefing

Detailing the National Investment Strategy

Set to Refute Claims of Regional Exclusion

On July 3, President Lee Jae-myung will present the Yeongnam Region Advanced Industry Investment Plan to the public in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province. This is the third regional national report meeting, following the announcement of the "Korea’s Leap Forward: Three Major Mega Projects" at the Blue House on June 29 and subsequent briefings for the Southwest and Chungcheong regions. The event aims to concretize the national investment strategy for responding to the Artificial Intelligence (AI) industrial revolution by designating regional growth hubs, while also actively refuting claims from some political circles that certain regions are being left out.

President Lee Jae-myung is taking a commemorative photo with attendees at the National Report Meeting on the Development Vision of the Chungcheong Region's High-Tech Industry held on July 2 in Asan City, Chungnam Province.

From the front row, left to right: Chief Secretary Kang Hoon-sik, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yoon-cheol, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, President Lee Jae-myung, Celltrion Chairman Seo Jung-jin, SK Hynix CEO Kwak No-jung, Minister of Industry Kim Jung-kwan.

From the back row, left to right: Policy Chief Kim Yong-beom, Minister of Planning Park Hong-geun, Minister of Education Choi Kyo-jin, Samsung Display CEO Lee Chung, Governor of Chungnam Province Park Soo-hyun, Mayor of Daejeon Heo Tae-jeong, Mayor of Sejong Cho Sang-ho, Governor of Chungbuk Shin Yong-han.

2026.7.2 [Photo by Cheongwadae Press Photographers Group] Yonhap News

On this day, President Lee will preside over the "Yeongnam Region Advanced Industry Investment National Briefing" in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province. Key corporate representatives from Samsung Electronics, SK Telecom, Hyundai Motor Company, Hanwha, and others will attend to share their investment plans and industrial development strategies for the Yeongnam region. The total planned investment for the Yeongnam region amounts to 270 trillion won. By sector, the largest portion—146 trillion won—will be invested in AI data centers, followed by 13 trillion won in physical AI, and 111 trillion won in the advancement of existing core manufacturing industries such as automobiles, shipbuilding, and aerospace.

The core theme of this briefing is to establish the Yeongnam region as a hub for AI data centers and future manufacturing innovation. Through the three major mega projects—encompassing semiconductors, AI, physical AI, and data centers—the government aims to diversify the industrial landscape, historically centered around the Seoul metropolitan area, and transform the existing industrial base of each region into an advanced industrial ecosystem. The Yeongnam region, with its strong foundation in traditional manufacturing such as automobiles, shipbuilding, machinery, and materials, as well as accumulated industrial infrastructure like ports, industrial complexes, and power grids, is considered an ideal location to combine AI-based manufacturing innovation with the data center industry.

In previous regional briefings, President Lee has consistently emphasized that this large-scale investment plan is not preferential treatment for any specific region, but rather a national survival strategy tailored to the unique environment and characteristics of each area. At the Southwest regional briefing held in Gwangju on June 30, a semiconductor and advanced industry investment plan worth 896 trillion won was presented, with participation from Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, and Amkor Technology Korea. At that time, President Lee highlighted the land, water, and renewable energy potential of Gwangju and South Jeolla Province, underscoring his commitment to fostering the southwest region as a next-generation semiconductor strategic hub.

At the Chungcheong regional briefing held on July 2 in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, major companies including Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, and Celltrion announced investment plans totaling 392 trillion won. The Chungcheong region was proposed as an advanced manufacturing hub, leveraging its existing semiconductor, display, and bio industries, and connecting demand for AI semiconductors such as High Bandwidth Memory (HBM).

President Lee Jae-myung is taking a commemorative photo with attendees after the signing ceremony of the MOU between the government and companies at the Southwest Region Advanced Industry Development Vision National Briefing held at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Gwangju on June 30, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News.

At the Yeongnam regional briefing, messages are also expected to be delivered rebutting arguments—mainly from the People Power Party—such as so-called "corporate arm-twisting" and "regional exclusion." Since the announcement of the three major mega projects, opposition parties and some local politicians have questioned whether these large-scale investments stem from companies’ voluntary decisions or if the government is shifting the burden onto corporations. There have also been claims that certain regions were excluded or marginalized during the selection of investment hubs. At the Chungcheong regional briefing on July 2, President Lee dismissed such concerns, stating, "There are those who hold the outdated notion that I pressured Chairman Lee Jae-yong into making investment decisions," directly refuting repeated assertions.

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