President Lee Jae-myung said Saturday that "only a speed battle is the way to survive," declaring that "we must secure the core elements of artificial intelligence (AI) faster than any other country." With the AI hegemony competition between the United States and China intensifying, he defined AI and semiconductor competitiveness as a matter of national survival and called for an all-out response.
Speaking at the "National Briefing on the Republic of Korea's Three Mega Projects for a Great Leap" held at the Yeongbingwan guesthouse of the Blue House, Lee said, "Semiconductors, physical AI, and AI data centers are the triangular pillars for a great leap." He added, "We must concentrate all the capabilities of the government and the private sector on linking these three pillars together to build a Korean-style AI ecosystem with a sense of speed."
In particular, Lee stressed, "We must quickly complete the production bases currently underway to meet the explosively growing demand for semiconductors," adding, "We must secure overwhelming supply capacity in advance through large-scale new investment in the southwestern region."
Regarding recent opposition claims of "pressure for a Honam semiconductor plant," Lee dismissed the notion, saying, "We did not force losses and risks on companies to push through a national necessity." He continued, "Honam has long been left out of development, but that has instead become a new opportunity," citing abundant water, renewable energy, and stable industrial land as the backdrop for the investment decision.
He also emphasized the government's commitment to support. "We will overhaul laws and systems and will not hesitate to make necessary innovations," Lee said. "I will place a dedicated officer directly under the Presidential Office and oversee it personally."
Addressing Samsung Electronics Chairman Jay Y. Lee and SK Group Chairman Tae-won Choi, who attended the event, the president said, "I would like to call them national heroes or heroes of the people," adding, "They have clearly proven that businesses can also act for the future of the national community."
