President Lee: "For the Three Major Mega Projects, Only Speed Matters"... Orders Removal of All Administrative Obstacles

First Joint Public-Private Inspection Meeting Held at the Blue House; Samsung and SK in Attendance

Orders Simultaneous Negotiated Land Acquisition and Compulsory Expropriation Procedures

"Site Selection Must Be Discussed and Finalized Concre

On July 6, President Lee Jae-myung convened the first follow-up inspection meeting for the "Three Major Mega Projects for Korea's Great Leap Forward." He emphasized, "Only speed matters," stressing that corporate investment should never be delayed due to administrative procedures. In particular, he instructed that the processes for negotiated land acquisition and compulsory expropriation should proceed simultaneously during land acquisition, and that the construction of essential infrastructure such as electricity and water supply should be promoted alongside other procedures.

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the Mega Project Public-Private Joint Inspection Meeting held at the Blue House on July 6, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News

Attending the "Three Major Mega Projects Public-Private Joint Inspection Meeting" held at the Blue House that day, President Lee stated, "This is a very important occasion where companies and the central government have come together for the full-scale implementation of the three major mega projects announced last week." He further explained that this project is not simply a regional investment initiative but a national survival strategy for the age of artificial intelligence (AI), adding, "It seems that, in this all-out competition that will determine the fate of the nation, the outcome will depend on who secures the lead the fastest." The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yoon-cheol, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jeonggwan, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Yoon-duk, as well as Samsung Electronics President Kim Yonggwan and SK hynix CEO Kwak Nojeong.

President Lee called for a speed-driven approach, urging that obstacles to project implementation be resolved proactively. He said, "The central government must anticipate and preemptively resolve any obstacles so that companies can focus solely on investment and work," emphasizing, "There must never be a case in which investment execution is delayed due to administrative procedure setbacks."

He specifically pointed out the recurring issue of permit delays in the process of building semiconductor plants. Citing the example of the Yongin General Industrial Complex, President Lee said, "Even in a case that was considered fast, it reportedly took six years from site confirmation to fab construction. While some may consider this quick, by my standards, it is not," he remarked. He further urged, "If compensation is delayed, it takes even longer, so we must ensure such situations do not occur."

President Lee also called for a significant reduction in the environmental impact assessment period. He stated, "If an environmental impact assessment result already exists, it is important to use it, and even if a new assessment is necessary, the process needs to be significantly shortened." He continued, "It has become the norm to proceed sequentially—completing procedure A before starting procedure B—but if everything must be done anyway, I would like all procedures to be carried out concurrently and in parallel. If there are regulatory issues, they should be resolved through legislation."

Regarding land acquisition, President Lee made clear his intention to reduce time by expediting compulsory expropriation. He stated, "In the process of land acquisition, if we proceed with negotiations and there are holdouts, negotiations take time, and if that fails, compulsory expropriation only begins at the end. Start both the negotiated acquisition and compulsory expropriation procedures at the same time," he ordered. He reiterated, "That is the original intent of the law. I hope we do not waste time on negotiated acquisition."

He also instructed that infrastructure issues, such as electricity and water supply, be resolved swiftly. President Lee said, "We should not wait for all other procedures to finish before addressing electricity and water issues. Instead, we should secure them preemptively based on the assumption that the project will proceed," adding, "Companies are reportedly concerned about the base load power supply. Although there is plenty of renewable energy, concerns remain about base load power, so those concerns must also be resolved proactively."

Additionally, President Lee emphasized the role of local governments, which are responsible for permits and approvals during administrative procedures. He said, "This project requires significant infrastructure investment, and establishing proper conditions for education, culture, and housing is vital. Much of the responsibility for permits and approvals lies with local governments. The competence and commitment of local governments are extremely important." He went on to positively assess the actions of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Unified Metropolitan City Council, adding, "Do your utmost to ensure that permits and approvals are not delayed by local governments during this process," and also called for active cooperation from local governments in the Yeongnam and Chungcheong regions.

Strongly Responds to Opposition Criticism of the Project: "Is This the Attitude of Public Officials in Charge of National Affairs?"

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the Mega Project Public-Private Joint Inspection Meeting held at the Blue House on July 6, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

President Lee raised his criticism against accusations that the project’s location is concentrated in certain regions, the so-called "exclusion theory." He pointed out, "Some complain, 'Why is it only going to one side? Are we being left out?' and then, with the same mouth, claim, 'It's a fraud, it's impossible, it's just an event.'" He questioned, "Is it right for public officials responsible for managing national affairs to take such an attitude?" Fixing his gaze on the camera, he warned, "Just pick one. Even if you can't cooperate, I hope you will at least not stand in the way."

President Lee also urged companies to be more specific and direct about their requirements. He said, "We need to prepare an implementation system that clearly defines who is responsible for what and how quickly things will be executed. We need to have concrete discussions on site selection and make decisions. I hope company representatives will specify exactly what they need and how much. Please speak directly and clearly about what, how, and how much is required." He also instructed relevant ministries, "You must present clear timelines and plans for implementation. Vagueness will never do; only then can we achieve speed."

Meanwhile, President Lee announced that, with the implementation of the semiconductor-related law in August and the launch of the Special Committee for Enhancing Semiconductor Industry Competitiveness, he would directly monitor follow-up matters through additional meetings. He said, "This is not an event. This is about marking a historic turning point for balanced national development in Korea," pledging, "The government will do everything it can." Regarding the possibility of financial support, President Lee said, "Since there is a considerable amount of excess tax revenue being generated in the semiconductor industry, the government will provide all possible support, including financial support," and promised, "Any obstacles will be resolved proactively and swiftly."

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